Tony Gebhard

Assistive Technology

Where do I start?

I am a tech professional who has worked in the field of rehabilitation and assistive software for over 5 years. Trying to decide on an avenue to take can be daunting. I’ve laid out popular choices in an article below for you to read. One size does not fit all for those of us who are visually impaired. The spectrum is vast, but, the beauty is having options! Go be awesome!

Assistive Technologies for the Blind

Assistive technology is core to independence for people who are blind or visually impaired, enabling them to access information and perform daily tasks with greater autonomy. Below, we explore some of the most popular assistive technologies for the blind, organized into categories for clarity.

Screen Readers

Screen readers are software applications that convert on-screen text (and even images) into speech or braille output, allowing blind users to interact with computers and smartphones. Many operating systems have built-in solutions (e.g. Narrator on Windows, VoiceOver on Apple devices, TalkBack on Android), but third-party screen readers offer advanced features.

  • JAWS (Job Access With Speech): A powerful, industry-leading screen reader for Windows. JAWS can read text aloud or output to a refreshable braille display, enabling users to navigate via speech or touch. It is a paid product developed by Freedom Scientific. Official site.
  • NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access): A free, open-source screen reader for Windows that provides comprehensive screen reading and braille support. Official site.
  • VoiceOver (Mac & iOS): The built-in screen reader on macOS, iPhones, and iPads. It offers detailed speech output and braille support, allowing users to interact with apps using keyboard commands or touch gestures. More info.
  • TalkBack (Android): Google’s built-in screen reader for Android devices. TalkBack provides spoken feedback and vibrations to help users navigate their devices “eyes-free.” More info.

Magnifiers

Screen magnifiers enlarge content on the screen for users with low vision, often enhancing contrast and clarity.

  • ZoomText: A popular magnifier/reader for Windows that enlarges everything on-screen and enhances visuals, including sharpness and color contrast. It also includes an integrated screen reader. Official site.
  • Fusion: A combination of ZoomText and JAWS that offers both magnification and comprehensive screen reading in one package. Official site.
  • Windows Magnifier: The built-in magnification tool in Microsoft Windows that allows users to zoom in on parts of the screen or the entire screen. More info.
  • Zoom (Mac): The macOS integrated screen magnifier that provides full-screen or picture-in-picture zoom options for easier viewing. More info.

Braille Displays & Resources

Braille is crucial for many blind users. Refreshable braille displays provide tactile output by raising and lowering pins to form braille characters, enabling users to read digital text by touch.

  • Refreshable Braille Displays: Devices available in various sizes (14, 20, 40, or 80 braille cells) that connect via USB or Bluetooth to computers and smartphones, working with screen readers to output on-screen text in braille.
  • National Braille Press: A non-profit organization promoting braille literacy with braille books, technology guides, and products. Visit National Braille Press.
  • Braille Superstore (Future Aids): An online store specializing in products for the blind, offering braille books and talking gadgets. Visit Braille Superstore.
  • MaxiAids: A major retailer of assistive products for independent living, carrying a wide selection of blindness and low-vision aids, including braille devices. Visit MaxiAids.

Accessible Apps

Smartphone apps have revolutionized accessibility, using cameras and AI to assist in real time.

  • Be My Eyes: A free mobile app connecting blind or low-vision users with sighted volunteers via live video calls for assistance. Visit Be My Eyes.
  • Seeing AI: An AI-powered app by Microsoft that narrates the world around you by recognizing text, objects, people, and scenes. Visit Seeing AI.
  • PiccyBot: An AI-driven app offering detailed descriptions of images and videos. Users can snap a picture or select an existing image, and PiccyBot provides a natural language description. Visit PiccyBot.
  • Google Lookout: An Android app that uses AI and the phone’s camera to identify surroundings and objects, offering modes for text reading, barcode scanning, and object recognition. Learn more about Google Lookout.

Other Notable Technologies

Beyond the main categories, several additional technologies enhance accessibility:

  • OCR Tools: Optical Character Recognition (OCR) converts printed text into digital text, which screen readers or braille devices can then process. Apps like KNFB Reader offer instant text-to-speech conversion for printed materials.
  • Wearable Devices: Devices such as OrCam MyEye, a camera mounted on eyeglasses, provide on-the-go reading of text, product identification, and facial recognition in real time.
  • Smart Canes: Enhanced white canes equipped with sensors detect obstacles and offer navigation assistance through vibrations or voice cues. Examples include the WeWALK Smart Cane, which integrates obstacle detection and GPS navigation.

By combining these technologies—from screen readers and magnifiers to braille displays, accessible apps, and smart devices—people who are blind or visually impaired can engage with the world more independently and efficiently.