Bionic Eyes Improving for Virtually Blind (Repost from San Jose Mercury News) about research papers presented at the conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in February. This is nearly 3 months old, but interesting enough to re-post anyway.
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Here is an important update for anyone who is interested in the Orcam system. The offer lasts until June 5: ~ A pre-launch version is now available at $2,500 (This is a similar price to a mid-range hearing aid) ~ The text reading component is up and running. It can be used for reading books, magazines, newspapers, […]
Read more "Wearable Sight Enhancement with Sound, Any Progress?"
As detailed in the press release, DareDevil [which features a blind superhero] is available today and other Netflix originals will be available with audio description in the coming weeks. Hopefully, Netflix will continue this trend and make audio described movies and tv from other providers available in the near future. For those of you using […]
Read more "An exciting announcement from a big provider of online streaming entertainment"
When you first lose vision you may not want to go near the TV set or the movies for a long time. You miss the faces, the expressions and the action too much. And it is horrible having to keep asking what is happening or where the ball is. After some years this may change […]
Read more "Do You Know when Your TV Shows Are on? Do They Have Audio Description? Or Are You Still in the Dark?"
What does each kind of video magnifier do? Who can get good use from them? Where can you get one? How much will you pay? I interviewed Bob McGillivray, Director of Low Vision Services at the Carroll Center and Low vision Engineering Consultant to the Mass. Commission for the Blind. First what is a video […]
Read more "Video Magnifiers: An Expert Leads You Through The Maze"
The Good Old Money folding system This works best if you have a long slot or pocket in your wallet that will hold the 6-inch bills unfolded. There are alternative folding systems but here is a good one: The $1 is left open and unfolded either in a front pocket for easy access for tips […]
Read more "Organizing Your Cash By Touch: Part 2 of Identifying Your Money, The Good Old Money folding system"
How to use Be My Eyes After a short and simple registration, you tap the screen to connect to a helper, and then point the camera at whatever you need read or explained. What is different about this crowd sourcing app from previous ones like VizWiz is the voice connection with your helper. Your helper […]
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This is a great step forward. Finally the U.S. government has been made to acknowledge that all its citizens need to identify paper money. But is it worth having another tool in your pocket? There are other ways to identify your money. This week the electronic methods and next week the good old money folding […]
Read more "Hey, the iBills Are Coming! But Will You Use Yours?"
Since 2001 there has been a cyber revolution in how books are read by everyone, especially people with vision problems…but the old ways are still there and still good, and most people start there. How can I read a book now? You may be able to read enlarged or highly contrasted print on a large […]
Read more "How to Read a Book: the Twenty-First Century has Revolutionized Reading for Everyone"
If you are registered as legally blind, you qualify for an iBill from the Federal Government so you can read money bills easily. The iBill is a neat device you can carry in your pocket or purse. It will reads the denomination of your bills. Provided you can slide the bill into the slot in […]
Read more "Important Money Reading Update: You Will Want to Know About This!"