Technology
Using a Computer to Access Music, Videos, and Radio for People with Visual Impairments and Blindness
In their series ‘Entertainment‘, American Foundation for the Blind explains how people who are blind or visually impaired can use a computer to access music, videos, and radio. Accessible Purchased Music and Video Content If your PC or Mac computer has a CD or DVD drive, you can insert a disc, and, depending on how…
Read MoreBuilt-in Smartphone Mapping Apps from Google and Apple
In their series ‘Smartphone GPS Navigation‘, American Foundation for the Blind explains how the built-in Smartphone mapping apps can help people who are blind or visually impaired. In their built-in mapping apps (Google Maps and Apple Maps), both Google and Apple provide mapping data collected and assembled from a wide number of sources—from satellite imaging…
Read More“Watching” TV with a Visual Impairment
Many unenlightened sighted people may wonder, “But if you can’t see, how can you watch TV?” If someone asks you this question, just smile, then wait until the next time they go into the kitchen to start dinner with their back turned but the TV on so they don’t miss anything. Pictures are nice, but…
Read MoreTurning the Printed Page into Machine-Readable Text
These days you can find nearly any book or magazine you wish to read in an accessible format. But there’s a lot more to living a productive and independent life than reading books. What about the daily mail? That print memo your boss just distributed? The folder of take-out menus you keep in a kitchen…
Read MoreAccessing and Reading Mainstream Electronic Books (eBooks) and Magazines
In addition to recorded book collections for people who are blind or visually impaired, it’s possible to obtain and access mainstream electronic books and periodicals. Project Gutenberg Project Gutenberg, named in honor of Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the moveable type printing press, was founded in 1971 with the goal of making culturally important works of…
Read MoreTop Collapsible Electronic Video Magnifiers – 2019
Here Are Our Top Collapsible Electronic Video Magnifiers – 2019: 1. MagniLink Zip 17″ 2. Reveal 16 3. Patriot Pro 4. Topaz PHD 15″ 5. MagniLink TAB 6. Clearview GO 7. Transformer HD OCR 8. MagniLink S 9. Prodigi Connect 12 10. MagniLink One +++ +++ +++ 1. MagniLink Zip 17″ The MagniLink…
Read MoreTop Text-to-Speech Electronic Video Magnifiers – 2019
Here Are Our Top Text-to-Speech Electronic Video Magnifiers – 2019: 1. EyePal Solo 2. ClearReader+ 3. Sara CE 4. Smart Reader 5. MagniLink Voice 2 6. omniReader +++ +++ +++ 1. EyePal Solo The Eye-Pal SOLO is the first and original camera-based reading and magnifying device. Accurate, fast and easy to use, the…
Read MoreMainstream Recorded and Audio Books: Resources for People with Print Impairments
While the resources discussed in special text collections will doubtless provide you with a lifetime of reading, it is also possible to obtain mainstream recorded and audio books. In this section we will describe several ways to obtain books that have been recorded for loan or purchase by all readers, regardless of vision status. Books…
Read MorePopular reading resources for people who are blind or visually impaired
Here are four extremely popular sources of books, magazines, and newspapers formatted to be accessible to people with visual impairments and blindness. National Library Service: Talking Books The National Library Service Talking Book digital player. The Library of Congress National Library Service (NLS) has been producing Talking Books since 1931, and today their collection, which…
Read MoreAssistive Devices and Technology for Low Vision
Are you having difficulty reading your mail or recipes? Would you like to see your family photos again? A CCTV could be just what you need! In macular degeneration, central vision is affected, while peripheral vision remains unchanged. You might experience a blurred area in the center of your vision or blank spots. Complete blindness…
Read MoreUsing Technology for Reading: Solutions for People with Visual Impairments and Blindness
If you lose vision gradually, you may go from reading glasses to prescription lenses, from large print books to hand-held magnifying glasses. Eventually, however, many reach the point where not even a strong magnifying glass will make text large enough to read. And if your blindness is sudden you may go from reading perfectly fine…
Read MoreOnline Shopping and Banking: Accessibility for People with Visual Impairments
Whether you are employed, receiving Social Security retirement or disability payments, or living off your savings and investments, as a person with a visual impairment you are just as much a consumer as anyone else. You need to shop for groceries, clothing, furniture, pots, and pans the same as everyone else you know. You may…
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