Rather than downloading various apps and software to accommodate their needs, the visually impaired are getting an Android smartphone developed specifically for them.
Telecom-product manufacturer Qualcomm and Project Ray are partnering to create one do-it-all device for visually impaired consumers. The off-the-shelf Android device will be able to read your messages, navigation and audio books aloud. It also has object recognition and will adapt to users' preferences and usage patterns. Users will navigate the touchscreen phone using vibration and sound.
This phone will reach an entirely under-served market when it comes to smartphones. There are 285 million visually impaired people in the world, 39 million of which are blind. Currently, several smartphone apps help visually impaired people identify paper currency, navigate streets and read text messages out loud. These options might be preferable to some visually impaired people who are strictly iPhone users, as Qualcomm and Project Ray's phone is Android-based.
In recent times, technology has proven to help thevisually impaired. This May, a woman in Australia received a bionic eye implant. When the implant was turned on, she was able to see shapes and lights, after being blind for 30 years. Other tools such as EyeMusic, a set of glasses that have a camera and headphones, use music to identify objects to the wearer.
What other features would you add to this Android phone for the visually impaired? Tell us in the comments below.
Thumbnail photo courtesy Flickr, ~Deez~.