1. Technology for the Blind
Ashlee Gentry
FCCS 1100
October 29, 2007

2. Types of vision problems
Low vision means lack of acuity, meaning that objects do not come into focus. It can also mean that the person has trouble distinguishing colors, seeing contrasts, and determining spatial relationships.
Visually impaired can be caused from many different reasons and the sight ability will range from low vision to totally blind.
Legally blind is sight that is worse than 20/200 and can not be fixed with corrective lenses.
A person who is totally blind can not anything with a rare exception of a bright light.

3. Blindness statistics
Around 10 million people in US are blind and visually impaired.
Around 1.3 million people in America are legally blind.
Around 10% of the 10 million use a white cane to get around.
An even smaller percentage is totally blind.
White Cane

4. Louis Braille and the Braille system
Louis Braille, from France, was blind from the age of the three.
Louis Braille invented the Braille system in
The Braille system is a grouped of raised dots in each “cell.” There is a max of 6 dots per cell.
Louis Braille

5. Note Takers
PAC Mate
There are many different types of note takers for the blind and visually impaired.
Slate and Stylus
Braille N’ Speak
Braille Note
Braille Lite
PAC Mate

6. jaws
JAWS converts text and components of the Windows operating system into synthesized speech, allowing access to Windows-based computers.
With JAWS one can surf the internet, listen to e- books and other materials, read text out loud from computer screen, use telecommunications and word processing.
JAWS is available in multiple
languages
Cost around $1100

7. Zoom text
Zoom texts is a special software that blows up the text on the screen for a low vision person.
It cost any where from $395 to $695 according to which version you choose.
Special “zoomed” keyboard
Sample of the zoom features
The software

8. mOre Gadgets Note Teller 2 reads all currency, including new bills.
Color Teller scans an object and says the color.
Language Master is a talking dictionary.
Color Teller
Note Teller 2
Language Master

9. other gadgets Talking Calculator Talking Clock Talking Caller ID
Talking Called ID
Talking Calculator
Talking Clock
Talking Caller ID
Talking Cell phones
Braille Embosser
Scanner
Recorders
Scanner
Talking Cell phone
Talking
Calculator
Embosser
Talking Clock

10. Bibliography
Blind, American Federation of the. Visually Impaired. 25 October 2007 <
Blind, American Foundation for the. Blindness Statistics October 2007 <
Bureau, US Census. Census Bureau. 14 October October 2007 < v/hhes/www/disable/dissipp.html. >.
Franklin. Franklin October 2007 <
Freedom Scientific. 20 October 2007 <
Gentry, Crystal. Technology for the Blind Ashlee Gentry. 27 October 2007.
Mart, Enable. Enable Mart October 2007 <enablemart.com>.
O'Neil, Linda. Being Blind. Vero Beach: The Rourke Press, Inc., 2001.
Randall, Vera. Braille Plus, Inc October 2007 <
Serge, Liz. Copin with Low Vision October 2007 <
Valenza, Joyce Kasman. "Surfing Blind." Fall GALILEO. 24 October 2007 <
WGBH. Services for people with disabilities October 2007 <