How the Blind Are Reinventing the iPhone
By Kornowski, Liat; Atlantic Monthly,Publication Date: May 2012
Article discusses the use of iPhone applications that assist blind users. Several blind residents of New York City are interviewed regarding their use of special apps for the iPhone to assist them in activities of daily living and help them navigate the city’s public transit system. The iPhone, although initially thought to be inaccessible to blind users due to its flat glass screen, provides sightless navigation by announcing the location of any feature appearing underneath a user’s finger pressed against the screen. The following apps are described: (1) VizWiz, used to take a picture of an item with the iPhone’s camera and send it to a customer-service representative for identification and utilized by one resident to match the colors of her clothing; (2) Sendero, an accessible GPS that announces the user’s location, cross streets, and nearby points of interest; (3) LookTel Money Reader, used to identify the denomination of bills; (4) HopStop, which, upon input of a destination, provides spoken public transit directions; (5) HeyTell, an app for sending and receiving messages similar to texting; and (6) Audible, an iPhone app that reads books downloaded from audible.com. A blind computer scientist interviewed also describes his development of an indoor GPS which will attempt to sketch a map of a building based on previous routes taken inside it.
Assistive Products Discussed: AUDIBLE DIGITAL AUDIOBOOKS
SENDERO GPS STANDARD & DELUXE
LOOKTEL MONEY READER
Published by: Atlantic Monthly Group (Website:http://www.theatlantic.com)
Link to text: http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/05/how-the-blind-are-reinventing-the-iphone/256589/
