Visual Assistive Technology Advancements Help the Visually Impaired and Students

Wearable VR Goggles Aid the Visually Impaired Navigate Around

“It seems like there is something new for our community every year,” says Alexander Pooler, director of assistive technology at the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB). He is pictured wearing the VR-type goggle device that his organization is hoping to bring to the masses. The goggles were used by a blind runner who completed the New York City marathon unassisted.

Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

For the blind and visually impaired, optical character recognition (OCR) and text-to-voice devices have been notable advancements. OCR sees words and with text to voice, says aloud what is printed.

• ClearReader: These devices allows the user to easily scan and read aloud magazines, books, or receipts. Easy to operate with distinctively shaped buttons.
• DaVinci HD/OCR Camera: The DaVinci camera is a high performance desktop video magnifier (CCTV). DaVinci will read any printed text aloud with the push of a button.
• Eye-Pal line Of Scanner/Readers: Eye-Pal offers a Portable scanner, reader, and video magnifier in one lightweight, battery-operated device.  Fast, accurate, and easy-to-use scanning and reading appliance that connects to a monitor or TV to display text in a high-contrast, large font so user can read along as the content is spoken.
• i-Reader Text to Speech Device: The i-Reader looks somewhat like an overhead projector and provides the user with a portable, easy to use text-to-speech experience using naturally sounding voices.
• KNFB Reader APP:  The easy-to-use KNFB Reader app converts any text to speech or Braille. Its text-to-speech and text-highlighting tools make it valuable for blind, low-vision, dyslexic, and other print-disabled users.

Dyslexic and other Learning Disordered Children also Benefit from OCR

Optical character recognition (“OCR”) has provided huge benefits for dyslexic and other learning disordered children. With the help of OCR, they can process make use of classroom materials that would otherwise be difficult to process. Not all learning materials in schools are distributed digitally, so tools like the above that can convert the text on a piece of paper into electronic text, provide great benefits.

Get in Touch with an Expert at Northwest Ergonomics & Assistive Technology

Northwest Ergonomics and Assistive Technology is here to help with your assistive technology needs. Our trained  experts will consult with you to understand your specific needs and provide solutions that really work. We help people of all ages who have experienced any kind of disability.

It is important to our caring specialists that you really get the benefit of these wonderful advancements in technology. For that reason we specialize in training and follow-up to make sure that everything is working as effectively as possible for you.

To contact us, use the form on our contact page, or call 206-707-8830