White Paper

Access for the Visually Impaired using Bluetooth technology

Content

• Access for the Visual Impaired
• How is Bluetooth developing?
• EU accessibility law won't cover design of goods
• EASPD position paper 2010
• Smartphones for the visually impaired
• Bluetooth Access a Potential Breakthrough
• I-send conclusion

Access for the Visual Impaired

As technology evolves more rapidly year after year, the costs and size of technology have shrunk considerably, just as the computational power of the technology has increased.

Breakthroughs in hands free interfaces, such as speech user interfaces have given individuals with various disabilities more independence. In addition, ubiquitous connectivity allows for the augmentation of a person's abilities, such as location awareness for visually impaired individuals.

As new technology is presented, it is necessary to keep in mind the needs of individuals with disabilities.

The widespread adoption of universally designed devices is currently being promoted as standard practice in some quarters, based on the argument that
Universal design benefits all users, regardless of their physical or mental abilities.

Issues such as closed/locked systems, which prevent changes for assistive technology purposes, hamper universal design and so steps have been taken to develop systems using open source code to allow easier manipulation for accessibility needs such as Bluetooth.

Although assistive technology devices promote independent living and working opportunities that benefit both society and the individual, there is a high abandonment rate for such devices due to their inability to supplement and enhance the daily life of those individuals it was designed for.

The adoption of such devices is dependent on many factors: durability of the device; ease of use; an intuitive interface and navigation; ability to perform in multiple environments; value and empowerment found by using the device; and advancement of technology.

This issue of subtle design is especially important due to the social implications of using a device that identifies one as “disabled.” Mass-market technologies, such as mobile phones, are used by everyone and therefore do not reinforce stereotypes typically associated with the use of assistive technology devices when used in public spaces. In addition, both sighted and visually impaired individuals prefer using a device that fits in a pocket, leaving hands free to hold a cane, shopping bag, etc.

Some systems require multiple pieces to be carried by the user, thus limiting the freedom of the user while also potentially making them stand out. The use of commodity technologies has become feasible in recent years, as mobile phones have grown to contain various functions that can be utilised to draw together information about locations namely Bluetooth.

EU accessibility law won't cover design of goods

Exerts:...
"Inaccessible products are barriers to independent living for blind and partially sighted people," it said. "For blind and partially sighted people, digital television is inaccessible because the interface requires the user to be able to see menus and programme information on the television screen.

"For many blind and partially sighted people, as for people with other disabilities, a mobile phone is an essential item. Unfortunately, accessibility issues with regard to electronic communications are addressed in a very patchy way in EU legislation," it said. "Blind and partially sighted people have to buy expensive ‘smartphones’ with an operating system that can support the assistive technology software they need, such as text-to-speech or screen magnification software."

I-send conclusion

Exerts
There are 12 million visually impaired people in the UK. These numbers are set to increase with the growing elderly population, the so-called “Baby Boomers”. Most of these people are not disabled but are just suffering from the problems caused by the simple passing of time.

With 2012 just around the corner and the eyes of the world focused on how we support the disabled and visually impaired, while the DDA is a valid and strong force the ideological attitudes towards access and its wider ramifications must be openly addressed.

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For a full copy of our White Paper Access for the Visually impaired by using Bluetooth technology please email: promote@i-send.co or click here.