Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ > Features > Mobile access tech goes mainstream
Mobile access tech goes mainstream
27th May 2010
When looking at accessibility, especially for visually impaired people, the choice was: a) whether you could use it or b) whether you couldn't use it. I remember that I thought one old phone I had was more accessible because of the minor advantage that it allowed you to fit standard double A batteries if you ran out of power.
This was handy to me because I couldn't see the meter to tell whether the built-in battery was dying and wouldn't get caught out if I took a pack of Energisers with me. That was about as good as these devices got, for some of us.
Enter the 21st century and there was a revolution in mobile access. Pioneers of add-on assistive software such as - who sadly died earlier this year - have had a massive impact on the lives of many disabled people. These customers now take it for granted that they will be able to use a handheld device to send and receive text and email messages, browse the web, listen to music, read books, get turn by turn directions, oh and even make calls.
The features are now richer and more accessible, so it's now all about which text-to-speech or screen magnifier will work on which handset? Will this one work with my satellite navigation package? Will it allow me to take a photo of a timetable, menu or letter and have it read aloud?
And, being as the phones which can be made accessible are at the premium end of the market *gulp* how much does it cost? All these questions are getting more and more difficult to find answers to.
It seems that we might just be on the brink of another revolution in mobile access, though. This time it's all about moving away from special software and devices and going mainstream. For instance, the latest generation of Apple products come with a range of accessibility features.
Dragon Dictate, for use creating documents hands free, is just one of over 50,000 apps (applications) that can be downloaded and installed on the newest models.
In terms of accessibility, the Google Android solution isn't quite as advanced as the Apple feature set right now, browsing the web with the screenreader for example still needs some work, but with all these access features available at the flick of a finger, choosing a mobile looks set to get much easier in the future.
Consider that both Apple and Androids can access the free Google navigation service with turn by turn directions as well as thousands of other apps, and you've got to think. Choosing your next mobile looks to be a whole lot easier.
However, each device has its advantages and disadvantages, and you'd be wise to try the assistive technology route as well as the emerging mainstream one. Just because it's free, or costs less, doesn't necessarily mean it's better.
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