Review of Different Tools and Technologies to Assist Visually Impaired Persons

Abdul Manan,Aneela Mazhar,Irfan Hussain,Umar Shoaib

doi:10.17485/ijst/2019/v12i19/121622

Abstract

Objectives: This paper presents the overview of five different tools and techniques for visually impaired, namely Braille Touch, Online Multi language Word Processor, Helping Hand, Sound Game and Readable Image. Methods: This is not a comparison of the tools, so each of the tool or technology was studied separately in terms of its design and working, merits and de-merits the experiments and evaluation etc. Findings: Braille Touch is a software-based technology and is very cheap and user friendly as compared to other available Braille Technologies. But, it can’t be implemented on Ordinary cell phones and needs touch devices. The Sound Game works automatically so it can be used by single user without any assistance. It can be used at home or small space because of compact size. Online Multi language Word ProcessorInterface was very simple and light colors were used to assist the color blinds but Translation and Transliteration were done using Google API that doesn’t provide accurate results. System is not evaluated to check the performance and popularity. Readable Image provides accessibility and readability of images at different levels of detail to the persons having visual impairments while previous tools could only read the image by its caption and tags.Helping Hand device is portable and very easy to use. The device was tested on a small group so the results cannot be considered satisfactory. Improvements: The Braille Touch device needs to be evaluated. More functions can be added in Sound Game and Online Multi language Word Processor. The approach for the Readable Image will be implemented.Keywords: Braille, Tools, Technologies, Visually Handicap, Visually Impaired

Highlights

In this technological age, everyone has to rely on computer based systems to perform routine tasks[1]
This paper presents the review of different tools and techniques developed recently to assist the visually impaired
This paper presented the overview of five recent tools and techniques for visually impaired, namely Braille Touch, Online Multi language Word Processor, Helping Hand, Sound Game and Readable Image

Summary

Introduction

Everyone has to rely on computer based systems to perform routine tasks[1]. There is a need of designing and developing assistive systems and technologies for such a majority of disable ones. Since that time efforts have been made to design such systems that will help blind and visually impaired to perform their routine tasks in an easy way. The “white cane”[16] explained that by painting his cane white, one will be more visible to the vehicle drivers. These white canes were sold out by Royal National Institute of Blind People in 1932 as a way finder aid for the visually impaired and blind[17]. The first mobile phone designed for the visually impaired was introduced in start of this century[19]

Objectives

Methods

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Conclusion