Blindness

Blindness can be defined physiologically as the condition of lacking visual perception. The definition as it applies to people thus legally classified is, however, more complex.

Tools

Designers, both visually impaired and sighted, have developed a number of tools for use by blind people.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mobility

People with serious visual impairments can travel independently using a white cane, the international symbol of blindness.

Related Topics:
White cane - International symbol

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A long cane is used to extend the user's range of touch sensation, swung in a low sweeping motion across the intended path of travel to detect obstacles. However, some visually impaired persons do not carry these kinds of canes, opting instead for the shorter, lighter identification (ID) cane. Still others require a support cane.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Each of these is painted white for maximum visibility, and to denote visual impairment on the part of the user. In addition to making rules about who can and cannot use a cane, some governments mandate the right-of-way be given to users of white canes or guide dogs.

Related Topics:
Right-of-way - Guide dogs

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A small number of people, about one percent, employ guide dogs. These companions are trained to lead blind individuals around obstacles on the ground and overhead. Though highly intelligent, guide dogs neither interpret street signs nor determine when the team ought to cross a street. Visually impaired people who employ these animals must already be competent travelers.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Reading and magnification

Most blind and visually impaired people read print, either of a regular size or enlarged through the use of magnification devices. A variety of magnifying glasses, some of which are handheld while others rest on desktops, can make reading easier for those with decreased visual acuity.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The rest read Braille and Moon type or rely on talking books and readers. They use computers with special hardware such as scanners and refreshable Braille displays as well as software written specifically for the blind, like optical character recognition applications and screen reading software.

Related Topics:
Braille - Moon type

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some people access these materials through agencies for the blind, such as the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in the United States, the National Library for the Blind or the RNIB in the United Kingdom.

Related Topics:
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped - National Library for the Blind - RNIB

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Closed-Circuit Televisions, equipment that enlarge and contrast textual items, are a more high-tech alternative to traditional magnification devices. So too are modern web browsers, which can increase the size of text on some web pages through browser controls or through user-controlled style sheets.

Related Topics:
Closed-Circuit Television - High-tech - Web browser - Style sheet

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Computers

Access technology such as Freedom Scientific's JAWS for Windows screen reading software enable the blind to use mainstream computer applications. Most legally blind people (70% of them across all ages, according to the Lighthouse for the Blind) do not use computers. Only a small fraction of this population, when compared to the sighted community, have internet access. This bleak outlook is changing, however, as availability of assistive technology increases, accompanied by concerted efforts to insure the accessibility of information technology to all potential users, including the blind.

Related Topics:
Freedom Scientific - JAWS for Windows - Screen reading software - Lighthouse for the Blind - Internet

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The movement towards greater web accessibility is opening a far wider number of websites to adaptive technology, making the web a more inviting place for visually impaired surfers.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Experimental approaches such as the seeing with sound project are beginning to provide access to arbitrary live views from a camera.

Related Topics:
Seeing with sound - Camera

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Other aids

People may use talking thermometers, enlarged or marked oven dials, talking watches, talking clocks, talking scales, talking calculators, talking compasses and other talking equipment.

Related Topics:
Thermometer - Scales - Calculator - Compass

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~