Specialty devices help blind use new technologies

New devices, ranging from enhanced keyboards for the visually impaired to Braille displays, are making it easier for those with limited or no eyesight to use computers — or just do simple things like riding the bus, according to News.com. The U.K.'s Blazie Engineering, for example, produces a $2,000 Braille display that can refresh lines of text as they are "read," while the Keys-U-See (pictured) is a $35 large-print keyboard for those with limited eyesight (or fully-sighted people who never quite learned to touch-type). Some devices address more prosaic needs, like the daily commute. AgentSheets, of Colorado, modifies Ipaq PDAs to interact with GPS-equipped city buses, allowing them to alert commuters when a bus approaches their stop, so they know when to get off.

[paul @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I've just spent the last week trying to learn how to use our accessibility software at the library and its appalling, the voice synthesis is very hard to listen to/understand, and it was clearly designed before the web was getting modern because going to an average web page sets the voice speaking just about every section in a rubbish order and..yeah.

Its not very good.

Another part of it is the magnification, which I do believe Windows 98+ has always had built in...

paulie

[Archer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I don't know about the software, but that keyboard is kinda cool. I'd run that, even w/ no vision problems!

[Sam @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

If the people are blind, why does the keyboard have to be bright yellow

[nial @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

It's a shame they decided to be cute with the arrow keys on that keyboard. Basically makes it worthless.

[wtfunkymonkey @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

#2 - read the article.

Keys-U-See (pictured) is a $35 large-print keyboard for those with *limited eyesight* (or fully-sighted people who never quite learned to touch-type).

[Google Nazi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

The only problem with this article is that your not really blind if you can still see a little (like squinting your eyes to the point of almost not seeing). because of this i have to agree with #2 haha

[fever @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

#5, you can be "legally blind"...

#3, I don't think people with "limited eyesight" will be playing many games in the future...

As for my 2 cents, I think this would be a perfect keyboard for the "Yellow Machine" (http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000733061977/). Especially if it's in some back-room cave in a small business.

f

[Bamboo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I am actually a special ed teacher at a private school, and plan on getting my IT guy to order a bunch of the keyboards above tommrow when I get in. From the stupid comments above, looks like some of you should have been in my class.
Different colors stand out better for some people. The board actually comes in 3 colors, yellow/black, black/white, and white/black. I am really looking foward to this because one student in the class can see fine, but has very poor motor control, including his eyes, so it is very hard for him to see the letters on a normal keyboard. This is perfect. I hope they will pay for overnight shipping so it will be here on Monday.