What technologies are employed online to serve the visually impaired?
If a user cannot see the monitor, other tools must be employed to interpret the content of a website. Screen magnifiers and custom style rules are the most accessible, as they require no special software libraries. Oftentimes, users with minor visual impairments can read the text on-screen after the relative or absolute size is increased.
If that’s not enough, the next most accesible technology is screen readers. These software programs synthesize speach using the text of websites. When working properly, users can dictate or type commands and hear audible response from the computer.
However, tools like screen readers rely on the semantic properties of the web. Website designers must be careful to approach their projects with respect to users of different locations, languages, tastes, needs, and abilities. Unfortunately, people with visual impairments often miss out on content on the web. Services like YouTube inherintly rely on the eyes, while other services simply ignore good practice. Proper design employs semantic (descriptive) markup and logical information architecture.
If a designers takes the time to carefully plan out each section of the website before work begins, the user (whether blind or squinting or textbook normal) can be directed more clearly. Proper organizations goes hand-in-hand with proper markup. For example, a timestamp is best identified with the HTML5 <time> tag and not the generic <span> tag. Addresses are best identified using microformats, microdata, or similar standards rather than generic <div>s. This website leverages all of these techniques.
Assisitve Technologies
House-Hold Items
To the completely blind, everyday tasks like cooking become nearly impossible without some sort of assistance. Liquid level indicators help visually impaired personnel know when a cup is full after pouring. This clip on device is attached to a cup and will ring when the liquid level raises high enough to activate the sensor (Sardegna). Flame-less ovens reduce the risk of injury for a “blind” person who cannot judge the activity of a wild flame. Other aids for the home include self-threading needles, sewing-machine magnifiers, magnetic padlocks (which require no combination and open with a magnetic sensor), raised large-print telephone dials, one-button automatic telephone-dialing systems, and brailled clothing tags
(Sardegna).
Screen Readers
Screen readers, also called speech synthesizers, enable people with visual impairment to hear the text that is being presented on a computer screen without having to read it; screen readers take the digital text and a computerized voice will speak to the user. Screen readers are also used as scanners for normal print. When equipped with a scanner, a reader can scan textbooks, books, magazines, and other printed text into the computer and listen as the computer recites the text. The software also works as a method for the input of text; when installed with a word processor, the user can recite words into a microphone that will be turned into digital texts without having to look at a keyboard.
Octagon
Not all text is converted into braille, but modern science has created the Octagon which is a camera lense that reads normal texts and then the of the user rests on a console that receives the print and converts it to a series of vibrating pins that simulate print letters.
(Sardegna). This increases the amount of things an individual is able to read because it extends to all texts not already converted to braille.
Braille
Braille is a a tactile language made up of a system of raised dots. The reader of braille feels the dots to recognize the letter
(Sardegna). Reading is considered one of the most readily used forms of communication next to speech. A person suffering from visual impairment is able to understand these raised dots by sliding his/her finger overtop of them and understanding them to be letters and words. Braille can be made by using a braille press, which presses thick paper leaving raised dots, or braille printers which can produce the raised dots like a normal printer can print paper.
Magnifiers
Magnifiers enable those with low vision to see normal texts by magnifying it (sometimes up to 60 times larger) without having to be converted to braille. Many magnifiers are hand held and are simply raised up to the text to aid the reader. Electronic magnifiers consists of a camera and lense which reads the text or the environment in focus and magnifies the image so that the individual can see better (Sardegna).
Change of Environment
Often times, those suffering from visual impairment are mostly disturbed by lighting fixtures in rooms and the sensitivity to light hinders their ability to see. Customized rooms may increase contrast, dim lights, and reduce reflections of light to provide a more comfortable environment for people to see (Sardegna).