Mobile assistive technologies for the visually impaired

Abstract

There are around 285 million visually impaired people worldwide, and around 370,000 people are registered as blind or partially sighted in the UK. Ongoing advances in information technology (IT) are increasing the scope for IT-based mobile assistive technologies to facilitate the independence, safety, and improved quality of life of the visually impaired. Research is being directed at making mobile phones and other handheld devices accessible via our haptic (touch) and audio sensory channels. We review research and innovation within the field of mobile assistive technology for the visually impaired and, in so doing, highlight the need for successful collaboration between clinical expertise, computer science, and domain users to realize fully the potential benefits of such technologies. We initially reflect on research that has been conducted to make mobile phones more accessible to people with vision loss. We then discuss innovative assistive applications designed for the visually impaired that are either delivered via mainstream devices and can be used while in motion (e.g., mobile phones) or are embedded within an environment that may be in motion (e.g., public transport) or within which the user may be in motion (e.g., smart homes).

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.survophthal.2012.10.004
Divisions: ?? 50811700Jl ??
College of Health & Life Sciences > School of Optometry > Optometry
College of Health & Life Sciences > School of Optometry > Optometry & Vision Science Research Group (OVSRG)
College of Health & Life Sciences
College of Health & Life Sciences > School of Optometry > Vision, Hearing and Language
Additional Information: NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Survey of ophthalmology. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Hakobyan, L, Lumsden, J, O'Sullivan, D & Bartlett, H, 'Mobile assistive technologies for the visually impaired' Survey of ophthalmology, vol. 58, no. 6 (2013) DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.survophthal.2012.10.004
Uncontrolled Keywords: blind,handheld assistive technology,IT systems,low vision,mobile assistive technology,mobile computer devices,mobile technology,vision loss,visual impairment,Ophthalmology
Publication ISSN: 1879-3304
Last Modified: 29 Mar 2024 08:10
Date Deposited: 26 Jan 2015 14:05
Full Text Link:
Related URLs: http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2013-11
Published Online Date: 2013-09-23
Authors: Hakobyan, Lilit (ORCID Profile 0000-0001-9518-4997)
Lumsden, Jo (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-8637-7647)
O'Sullivan, Dympna
Bartlett, Hannah (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-7531-6902)

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