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Mobile Technology Assistance for the Blind and Vision-Impaired
Wired.com recently ran an article entitled “Gadgets No Help for the Blind”. The article makes several overall comments on the mobile industry including:
Though many assistive devices are commercially available for the blind and vision-impaired, each has limitations and nearly all are expensive, produced in small batches by specialized companies. Even a software program that makes a computer talk is nearly $1,000 — as much as the computer itself.
…Mainstream companies need to consider the vision-impaired when designing products, Leventhal says.
“There’s no reason for someone to have to make an MP3 player that’s accessible to blind people when several companies are already making MP3 players,” he says.
When looking at current mobile devices and releases that have already been announced, have you seen any specific movements from the mainstream industry to assist the physically challenged? What more do you think can be done at minimal cost to assist initiatives such as those mentioned in the Wired article?