Disability Visual Aids: Available Products and Reviews

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Visual Communication is defined as communication through a visual aid, and described as the conveyance of ideas and information in forms that can be read or looked upon. Visual communication in part or whole relies on vision, and is primarily presented or expressed with two-dimensional images, it includes: signs, typography, drawing, graphic design, illustration, Industrial Design, Advertising, Animation color, and electronic resources. There are 4 levels of visual function, according to the International Classification of Diseases:

• Normal vision
• Moderate visual impairment
• Severe visual impairment
• Blindness.

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20/20 Vision

A term used to express normal visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet (6.1 meters). If you have 20/20 vision, you can see clearly at 20 feet (6.1 meters) what should normally be seen at that distance. If you have 20/40 vision, it means that when you stand 20 feet (6.1 meters) away from the chart, you can see what a normal human can see when standing 40 feet (12.19 meters) from the chart.

Legally Blind

In North America and most of Europe, legal blindness is defined as visual acuity (vision) of 20/200 (6/60) or less in the better eye with the best correction possible. This means that a legally blind individual would have to stand 20 feet (6.1 meters) from an object to see it with the same degree of clarity as a normally sighted person could from 200 feet (60.96 meters).

Some Quick Vision Impairment Statistics

• 80% of all visual impairment can be prevented or cured.
• 82% of people living with blindness are aged 50 and above.
• About 90% of the world's visually impaired live in low-income settings.
• 285 million people are estimated to be visually impaired worldwide: 39 million are blind and 246 have low vision.
• The number of people visually impaired from infectious diseases has reduced in the last 20 years, according to global estimates work.
• Globally, uncorrected refractive errors are the main cause of moderate and severe visual impairment; cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness in middle- and low-income countries.

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Adaptive Technologies and Functions

A Braille reader is used as an input device on a personal computer. This is direct touch for embossed point on Braille paper by an isolated thin metal wire which can connect to any other large/small computers.

A (CCTV) or closed-circuit television system uses a stand-mounted or handheld video camera that projects a magnified image onto a video monitor, a television (TV) screen, or a computer monitor.

Braille Displays operate by raising and lowering different combination's of pins electronically to produce in Braille format what appears on a portion of a computer screen. They show up to 80 characters from the screen and are refreshable. The Braille display sits on the user's desk. The advantage of the Braille display in comparison to synthetic speech is in its direct access to information. They also check format, spacing and spelling.

Electronic Braille notetakers are small, portable devices with Braille keyboards for entering information. They use a speech synthesizer or a Braille display for output. The user then enters the information on the Braille keyboard and has the option of transferring it to a computer with more memory, reviewing it using the built-in speech synthesizer or Braille display, or printing it on a Braille or on a printer.

Screen readers that tell the synthesizer what to say. The synthesizers used with computers are text-to-speech systems. Their programming includes all the phonemes and grammatical rules of a language. This allows them to pronounce words correctly.

Screen magnifiers come with many options and can reach high levels of magnification. Today's full-featured screen magnification programs are compatible with Windows Vista, XP, and NT/2000. For those who need more than magnification, it is possible to use a built-in screen reader with today's screen magnifiers.

• Low Browse: From Lighthouse International, this is an add-on to Mozilla's Firefox browser. It enables a visually impaired person to view web pages as the web author intended them to be viewed. This software also reads the text on those pages that is formatted to the viewer's own needs.
• WebAnywhere: WebAnywhere is a screen reader that is web-based. The blind can access the web from any computer as long as it has a sound card.

Visual Aids for Everyday Use

• Medication Reminder Pill Bottles: These bottles have a recorder that speak instructions on how to take medications and what to do when you miss a dose. The pharmacist actually records the message. Average Price: $25.00
• Vibrating Watch: Vibrating watches are wonderful to remind one of meeting and when to take medication or other activity. Average Price: $100.00
• Talking Cooking Thermometer (not just for cooking): There are many uses for this item, such as for in the kitchen testing the temperature of the meat or when cooking water. Other uses include testing the temperature of a room, bath water, and heating pads. Average Price: $30.00
• Braille Speaker-phone with Large Numbers: Phones of these types have large numbers with accompanying symbols in Braille, as well as a visual ring indicator. Average Price: $33.00
• Checks and Deposit Register: Checks in Large Print can be ordered for free from your local bank. Large check registers measuring 8.5 by 11 for the visually impaired are available for purchase. They make it easy to maintain your finances. Average Price $6.00
• Talking Timers: There are many types that mention the end of timing. Some come with many functions, but of course, the cost is much more. The price below is for the basic ones. The Average Price: $12.00
• Talking Color Identifier: This is an invaluable, wonderful tool for identifying colors that is preformed by placing the tool on the item. The color is then identified in speech. Items that the tool can be used on are clothing, fabric or many other surfaces. There are 14 types of colors normally identified with these products. Average Price: $140.00
• Talking Calculators: They have large print and also speak. The lower priced ones have the basic functions of adding, subtracting, dividing, multiplying, and calculating percentages. Average Price: $20.00
• Talking Books and Players: These are available for free through the Talking Books Services. Check your local Agencies.
• White Canes: Most canes come in carbon fiber for lasting quality. They are best as collapsing types, for they fit conveniently anywhere. Average Price: $35.00
• Talking Clocks and Watches: There are several types of talking clocks and watches with excellent voice quality. Average Price: $15.00
• Magnifiers: Magnifiers come in numerous sizes with different magnification depending upon what the users needs are, so prices do vary. Average Price: $10.00
• Braille Tags: These are great for sewing into clothes to identify them. An example would be to determine the color or for matching purposes. They come in a package. Typically, the amount is a quantity of 50. Average Price: $30.00
• Low Browse: From Lighthouse International, this is an add-on to Mozilla's Firefox browser. It enables a visually impaired person to view web pages as the web author intended them to be viewed. This software also reads the text on those pages that is formatted to the viewer's own needs.
• WebAnywhere: WebAnywhere is a screen reader that is web-based. The blind can access the web from any computer as long as it has a sound card.

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