By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    preventing from sickness
    The 4 Steps To Take If You Get Sick While Living As An Expat
    August 25, 2024
    workout recovery
    From Fatigue to Fuel: Recovery Hacks for Faster Results
    December 24, 2024
    Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Latest News
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Image
    Caregivers, Don’t Forget to Wash Your Hands, It Saves Lives
    February 10, 2013
    Misconception – Healthcare Reform Will Impact Medical Science
    March 8, 2012
    Image
    What To Do About Heroin and Oxycontin
    April 26, 2013
    Latest News
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: 5 Life-Changing Assistive Technologies for the Visually Impaired
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Technology > Medical Devices > 5 Life-Changing Assistive Technologies for the Visually Impaired
Medical DevicesTechnology

5 Life-Changing Assistive Technologies for the Visually Impaired

Ryan Mackellar
Ryan Mackellar
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

 

Contents
  • Mobile Apps
  • Screen Readers
  • Screen Magnification Systems
  • New Wearable Technology
  • Text-to-speech software
  • Accessible Learning for those with Disabilities

A whopping 19 percent of the U.S. population lives with disabilities, representing the largest minority group in the country. In Canada, the number is a staggering 13.7 percent. Many people who live with disabilities don’t have access to basic technologies and struggle to secure employment. However, thanks to advances in assistive technologies, people with physical limitations can pursue their life’s passions and become contributing members of society. Below are five assistive technologies that are changing lives, specifically of those who are visually impaired:

  1. Mobile Apps

Many assistive technologies are now available as apps, and can be used by everyday devices such as smartphones, laptops, and even GPS devices. These apps not only help those who are visually impaired and struggle to see, they also provide assistance to those who experience trouble with their fine motor skills, enabling them to communicate electronically like anyone else.

For instance, an app called Be My Eyes connects a visually impaired user with a sighted volunteer via a remote video connection. This allows the user to get immediate assistance with any vision related problem they encounter, including interacting with their immediate environment.

More Read

Del Mar Pharmaceuticals Is Fighting Cancer One Molecule At A Time
Transforming Medicaid via the Medical Home Model
A Framework for Embracing Cloud in Health and Healthcare
The Future of Healthcare and Big Pharma is in Big Data Analytics
Video: Tips for Overcoming the Gray Areas of Meaningful Use Stage 1 for Safety Net Providers
  1. Screen Readers

Screen readers allow those with little to no vision to read the text displayed on the screen with either a synthesizer or braille display. The speech synthesizer can also alert the user to changes that appear on screen, as a result of entering a command on the keyboard or braille display. It can also help the user locate the position of the cursor on the screen and other advanced functions like automatically reading a predetermined section on the display.

Although screen readers come at a considerable cost, they can often be claimed as a medical expense.

  1. Screen Magnification Systems

For those with partial vision, screen magnification systems are helpful tools that can be loaded onto their computer. This technology magnifies the area around the cursor, allowing the user to more easily read the text. Screen magnifiers also enlarge graphics, icons, and buttons, all of which help the user consume the information on the screen and effectively navigate the interface.

  1. New Wearable Technology

New wearable technology allows those with a visual impairment to sense obstacles and locate objects within their environment. For instance, eSight glasses have a camera on the outside and two small hi-definition screens on the inside, with a remote control that enables users to optimize real-time footage for things like contrast and magnification.

  1. Text-to-speech software

Text-to-speech software is designed to help people who have difficulties reading standard print, by translating text into audio. This technology scans and reads words to people in a synthesized voice, using a variety of speech sounds that make up words in any given context. Many smartphones include a built-in text-to-speech feature to help those with visual impairments, as well as people who prefer using this feature instead of reading text.

Accessible Learning for those with Disabilities

People living with disabilities are often challenged to pursue their dream career. Fortunately, there are solutions offered by colleges include a variety of accommodations to reduce or eliminate disability-related issues. Many colleges offering note taking services and other programs to make their course offering more accessible.

Distance-based learning opportunities, even when not fully accessible, can also help. Online self paced education programs in plc programming, for example, allows anyone to complete from the comfort of their own home. This helps people who might have mobility issues or other challenges with traveling to and from class.

It’s important that educational programs, both online and in-person, make every effort at accommodation. This is because it’s not just people living with a disability who benefit when we make society more accessible; everyone in society does too.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Ryan Mackellar
Ryan is a content writer from Toronto interested in accessibility and health-care technology.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

engineer fitting prosthetic arm
How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
Health care
August 20, 2025
a woman explaining the document
How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
Public Health
August 20, 2025
physiotherapist at work
How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
Health care
August 20, 2025
Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs
7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
Health News
August 20, 2025

You Might also Like

Artificial IntelligenceeHealthMedical InnovationsTechnology

How AI Makes Precision Medicine More Accurate

April 18, 2018
cryptocurrencies changing healthcare
Medical InnovationsTechnology

Top Healthcare Cryptos that Are Changing the Medical Industry

March 6, 2022
Management Software in Healthcare
Technology

The Critical Role of Maintenance Management Software in Healthcare

August 12, 2024
Mobile HealthTechnology

8 Reasons Why mHealth Is Beneficial For Patients Of The Future

December 20, 2018
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?