Technology for the Visual
Impaired
I’ve talked about some of
these products before but the information becomes more meaningful as I get
older. Trips to the eye doctor aren’t
much fun any more as new words like cataracts, macular degeneration and
glaucoma get added to once routine check-up’s.
We take our eye-sight for granted until we hear those words and
maintaining the status quo suddenly becomes a precious commodity.
Melinda Beck writes about “High
Technology for Low Vision,” for The Wall Street Journal (Tuesday, September 9,
2008). More than 16 millions Americans
admit to some fomr of visual impairment, even when corrected with glasses or
contacts, and that number will soon double as people live longer and healthier
lives.
An ever growing list of
devices to help people maximize remaining vision or compensate for what they
have lost is now available. Free
software can tailor text on any Web page to your specifications and cell phones
can snap photos of signs and even menus before reading them back to you.
A comprehensive vision rehab
assessment by a team of specialists is the first step to determine what your
needs are. An artist or a musician will
need different technologies than someone who just wants to be able to watch
television. The Lighthouse International
organization (www.Lighthouse.org) has
a list of low vision resources around the world. Insurances cover exams but probably won’t
contribute to the cost of the devices, but discounts may be available.
Regardless of the cost, if you truly cherish your eyesight and your
independence it is worth the cost.
Examples: Customizing your computer. You can download free software from
Lighthouse called Low-Browse that will help you select the type, size, style,
color and spacing of the text. Low-Browse
can also read the text to you or magnify the images (www.LowBrowse.org). KnfbReader Mobile cell phone is a cell phone
with a camera that will take a picture and read it back to you. The Merlin LCD video magnifier displays
whatever you put underneath it on a monitor. The
Trekker Breeze by HumanWare is a global
positioning system that announces streets and intersections whether you are
walking or riding. Small magnifiers,
reality glasses, books on tape and gadgets galore are available to make life
easier.
Please check out (www.Lighthouse.org) for resources in your
city and take advantage of information provided by your state offices for the
blind and visually impaired.
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