Archive for blind

Kindle Move Over, Braille E-Book On The Rise

brailleebook

Though it’s still on development stage, it’s exciting to note that anyone and everyone canget the benefits technology has to offer. The visually-impaired can now ride on the e-book bandwagon as well. No need to ruffle through braiille pages, no need to carry around massive thick books while your 20/20 contemporaries tote around their Kindles. Pretty soon, the blind can lug around their own stylish e-book reader. Thanks to five entrepreneuring and smart Koreans.

How on earth is this possible, you think? Well everything is possible with technology nowadays. Electroactive polymers transform the screen into tactile text. The dot patterns actually rise and fall like a mini electric shock. At least now we’re sure that the visually challenged aren’t excluded from the music-loving readers group. While waiting for this to come out in the market, you can always pick up a Braille Sense PDA over at Amazon in the meantime.

The “K-NFB Reader” – A Handheld Solution for the Blind!

The Kurzweil-National Federation of the Blind Reader (or K-NFB Reader) is a completely portable, handheld camera/cell-phone that can read any printed word it captures. It is by far the largest stride in aiding the blind to function in normal society. The technology of scanning and reading printed material is not new, but this handheld device is the first easily portable and useful device of its kind.

The amount of printed material someone with vision reads everyday is outstanding. This is sometimes taken for granted; it becomes very difficult to understand your surroundings when blind. A simple task such as grocery shopping can be quiet redundant when you can’t read the new daily ads and you stick with the products you know. Most publications sold at the stands are in standard print, as well as most restaurant menus. This new device makes it possible for the blind to purchase a magazine, go into a restaurant and order a nice meal, then sit there and read while waiting to eat. It has really opened the world up for the blind.

The K-NFB Reader combines state-of-the-art digital camera/cell-phone technology with a powerful PDA housed in a custom-designed, attractive case. In addition to being the most technological speak screen readers it has all the latest cell-phone technology too; GPS programs, access to PDF files, MP3 player, making and receiving calls.

Currently the K-NFB Reader is available for purchase from any health aid company. The standard going rate is around two thousand dollars with cell phone, without the cell phone it can be purchased for about fifteen hundred. It is definitely a small price to pay for such a helpful product.

For more information you can go directly to this technologies website at:

http://www.knfbreader.com/

GPS for the blind

GPS for the blind

GPS for the blind

Trekker is GPS system that is specially made for the blind and the visually imparied that uses a GPS and digital maps to their ways.  This gadget allows a blind person or any user to record both vocal and written notes.

This device does not contain any GPS receiver but at the same time you can use any of the  shelf hardware for GPS input.  As this device can also be upgraded, it allows you to expand or accommodate  new hardware platforms and more geographic information .With the trekker a user can use an agenda,text documents, contact details, vocal notes, Daisy Reader (Victor Reader Pocket. ). The trekker just weights 600g (1.3lbs) and size 87mm x 134 mm x 27mm.

The best features of this device are as follows: Real Time information detection (Intersections and Point of Interest ), Real- time/Offline map Browsing (Route Prview ), Route planning and  recording (Guiding Rules), Flexible level of vocal information , Vocal point of Interest creation, Access to GPS status information.