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<div class="editorbox"> '''Original Editor '''- [[User:Robin Tacchetti|Robin Tacchetti]] '''Top Contributors''' - {{Special:Contributors/{{FULLPAGENAME}}}}</div>
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== Introduction ==


'''Original Editors ''' - [[User:User Name|User Name]]
Millions of people globally have vision loss or a visual impairment.  Recent estimates that there are over 43 million blind people and 295 million people suffering from moderate-to-severe visual impairment with the majority of these individuals living in middle and low-income countries.<ref name=":1">Senjam SS. Smartphones for Vision Rehabilitation: [https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/76654 Accessible Features and Apps, Opportunity, Challenges, and Usability Evaluation]. InSoftware Usability 2021 May 7. IntechOpen.</ref>  Visual impairment can be classified by one's visual acuity: 


'''Top Contributors''' - {{Special:Contributors/{{FULLPAGENAME}}}}  &nbsp;   
* Blind: Vision Below 20/400
* Low Vision: Corrected vision is less than 20/70 and greater than or equal to 20/400<ref name=":2">BORGES WF, MENDES EG. [https://www.scielo.br/j/rbee/a/PqzBDQy876SLp3kG4Jndgjz/?lang=en Usability of assistive technology applications by people with low vision.] Revista Brasileira de Educação Especial. 2018 Oct;24:483-500.</ref>
<br>
Visual impairment impacts quality of life in various ways such functional daily activities, indoor and outdoor movement, employment and independence. <ref name=":4">Senjam SS, Manna S, Bascaran C. [https://www.dovepress.com/smartphones-based-assistive-technology-accessibility-features-and-apps-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OPTO Smartphones-Based Assistive Technology: Accessibility Features and Apps for People with Visual Impairment, and its Usage, Challenges, and Usability Testing]. Clinical optometry. 2021;13:311.</ref> Additionally, dangerous situations can occur when these individuals encounter environments unfamiliar to them.<ref name=":3">Hwang J, Kim KH, Hwang JG, Jun S, Yu J, Lee C. [https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3e9a/cb22d2491220a1383a8e56aaefd38ce11a36.pdf Technological opportunity analysis: Assistive technology for blind and visually impaired people]. Sustainability. 2020 Oct 20;12(20):8689.</ref> These barriers individuals face daily can be overcome with the help of assistive technology.<ref name=":1" />  The wide range of vision assistive technology can be a simple low-tech device (large print book) to an expensive high-tech solution such as a Refreshable Braille Display.<ref name=":0">Senjam S. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339972789_Assistive_Technology_for_People_with_Visual_Loss Assistive Technology for People with Visual Loss]. Delhi Journal of Ophthalmology. 2019 Oct;30(2).</ref> Recent advances in technology have expanded the digital assistive technology space.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" />


</div>
== Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE) ==
== Intro ==
In 2014, the World Health Organization introduced the Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE).  This initiative's addresses the significant gap in all countries between supply and demand for assistive technology.  GATE published a list of the top 50 priority assistive products based on widespread need amongst the disabled population.  Of those 50 priority products, 16 are geared towards people with visual impairments.  These vision assistive products help by the use of sound, smell, or sense of touch or vibration.<ref name=":0" />


Globally, around 253 million people who have some form of visual loss are facing such challenges and difficulties in their everyday life.hese people need to live with independent lives, and cope these daily challenges and difficulties resulting from visual impairment whether it is at home, workplaces, schools, or market. Fortunately, the continued advance in assistive technology has provided a new platform and opportunities for people living with visual impairment to overcome many of these barriers and challenges that they encounter in their everyday lives. Digital assistive technology is one of them that has grown rapidly in the past few years which helps in solving these challenges.<ref>Senjam SS. Smartphones for Vision Rehabilitation: [https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/76654 Accessible Features and Apps, Opportunity, Challenges, and Usability Evaluation]. InSoftware Usability 2021 May 7. IntechOpen.</ref>
== Different Types of AT  ==


Globally, there are 43 million blind and 295 million people with moderate-to-severe visual impairment.<sup>1</sup> The great majority of them live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).<sup>1</sup> Visual impairment has an impact on the quality of life and wellbeing of individuals. Limitations in daily functioning, independence, indoor and outdoor movement, social inclusion, communication and employment extend beyond the affected individual, and can have repercussions for the family and the community<ref>Senjam SS, Manna S, Bascaran C. [https://www.dovepress.com/smartphones-based-assistive-technology-accessibility-features-and-apps-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OPTO Smartphones-Based Assistive Technology: Accessibility Features and Apps for People with Visual Impairment, and its Usage, Challenges, and Usability Testing]. Clinical optometry. 2021;13:311.</ref>
# Optical:
#* prescribed by ophthalmologists
#* consist of one or more lenses to adjust/increase visual image
#* devices can include: eyeglasses, telescopes, contact lenses, magnifying glasses
# Non-optical
#* improve vision without use of lenses
#* simple, transform environment and materials
#* devices include: enlarged text, lighting, felt tip pens, contrasting colors, didactic books
# Electronic[[File:378px-Magnifying glass.jpeg|thumb|238x238px|magnifying glass|alt=]]
#* provide access to printed material that optical magnifying glasses are not able to expand enough for reading
#* able to magnify up to 66 times without distortion
#* devices include: scanners, autonomous text readers, video magnifiers, electronic magnifying glass
# Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
#* works through a combination of sound, tactile and visual interfaces
#* devices include: computer, screen magnifier software, screen readers<ref name=":2" />


According to the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10), a person has low vision (or subnormal vision) when his/her visual acuity, corrected in the best eye, is less than 20/70 and greater than or equal to 20/400, and those whose values are below 20/400 are considered blind. <ref>BORGES WF, MENDES EG. [https://www.scielo.br/j/rbee/a/PqzBDQy876SLp3kG4Jndgjz/?lang=en Usability of assistive technology applications by people with low vision.] Revista Brasileira de Educação Especial. 2018 Oct;24:483-500.</ref>
== Assistive Visual Technology by Tasks ==


The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that at least 2.2 billion people worldwide have a visual impairment or blindness [1]. Unlike congenital blindness, acquired visual impairment has often been diagnosed due to aging, lifestyle factors, or heredity effects [2]. Presbyopia caused by aging has had the greatest impact on visual impairment and has been the second most common cause of blindness worldwide [3]. 1.09 billion people, over the age of 35, suffer from visual impairment due to presbyopia, and as life expectancy increases, the rate of acquired blindness is expected to increase more and more significantly [4]. Blind and visually impaired people have encountered a lot of challenges when performing most of the natural activities performed by non-disabled people [5]. In particular, many dangerous situations occur in environments that are unfamiliar to them. Assistive devices have been used for the blind and visually impaired people to overcome various physical, social, infrastructural, and accessibility barriers to independence and to live active, productive, and independent lives as equal members of the society [6,7]. The use of assistive devices has been increasing, and several electronic aid devices have been introduced over the past few years, called electronic travel aids (ETAs), which can replace with existing aid apparatus, such as white canes [8]. ETAs combining different types of sensors, cameras, or feedback channels can work with different implementation approaches and improve mobility for the visually impaired [9]. Assistive systems based on computer vision or machine learning methods have been emerging, and assistive technology has been expanded according to technological advancement [10–12]. 2020, 12, 8689. As life expectancy increases, the number of people who suffer from blind and visual impairment due to presbyopia is gradually increasing. Assistive device systems have been used to overcome various physical, social, infrastructure, and accessibility barriers. As technology has advanced, the scope of assistive technologies has been expanded.<ref>Hwang J, Kim KH, Hwang JG, Jun S, Yu J, Lee C. [[Technological opportunity analysis: Assistive technology for blind and visually impaired people]]. Sustainability. 2020 Oct 20;12(20):8689.</ref>
== Reading ==
 
Many activities in our daily lives requires the act of reading. These assistive devices below can help individuals with visual impairment:  
There are a wide range of assistive technology available
# large print books
 
# reading stands
starting from a simple, low cost like large print books to high
# low vision lamps
 
# optimal magnifiers
end, very expensive like Refreshable Braille Display<ref name=":0">Senjam S. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339972789_Assistive_Technology_for_People_with_Visual_Loss Assistive Technology for People with Visual Loss]. Delhi Journal of Ophthalmology. 2019 Oct;30(2).</ref>
# electronic magnification aids
 
# digital audio recorders
== GATE ==
# screen readers
Recently, the World Health Organization introduced the
# braille reading systems<ref name=":0" />
 
[[File:Braille alphabet.jpeg|none|thumb|alt=|braille alphabet]]
Global Cooperation on Assistive T<span class="_ _4"></span>echnology (GA<span class="_ _4"></span>TE) in
 
2014 to address the need of the substantial gap between the
 
needs and supply of A<span class="_ _4"></span>T for persons with disabilities in all
 
countries.9 Under this initiative, the WHO published the
 
rst <span class="_ _2"></span>list <span class="_ _2"></span>of top  50 Priority  APs <span class="_ _2"></span>on <span class="_ _2"></span>the basis  of widespread
 
need amongst the people with <span class="_ _2"></span>disability.10 There are sixteen
 
devices in the GATE list for people with visual impairment.
 
AT<span class="_ _4"></span>s for visually impaired (low vision) and blind people are
 
based on a sense of touch or vibration, sound, and smell
 
etc.11,12 <ref name=":0" />
 
== Different Types of AT (borges) ==
Optical:
 
Optical resources comprise devices that must be prescribed by specialized ophthalmologists and consist of one or more lenses, which are placed between the eye and the object to increase or adjust the visual image. In the category of optical resources for far vision, there are common eyeglasses, contact lenses, telescopes with adjustable focus or fixed focus. Among optical resources for close-up vision, there are manual, fixed, supportive magnifiers, regular glasses and magnifying glasses. These aids help to increase visual performance, especially in relation to reading and writing
 
Non-optical resources are those that improve visual function without the aid of lenses, are simple, useful, and transform materials and environments, providing better visual performance (Carvalho et al., 2005). In addition, they facilitate vision through environmental modifications, improving lighting conditions and increasing contrast; enlarge texts and printed images; and provide accessories to improve physical comfort (Romognolli & Ross, 2008). Among the non-optical aids, we should highlight the expansion of didactic books, notebook guidelines; suitable lighting; support for reading and writing; increased contrast with the use of stronger graffiti (pencil 6B); felt tip pens; use of very contrasting colors such as black ink on white paper, or white or yellow chalk to increase contrast with the board background; typescope (writing guide); portable lamps and so on
 
Electronic resources, in turn, allow people with low vision to have access to printed materials that optical magnifying glasses are unable to magnify enough to allow reading. They can magnify images up to 66 times without any distortion, as well as changing colors and contrasts to meet the diverse needs of each visually impaired person. Among the electronic resources, we highlight: Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV), electronic magnifying glass, scanners and autonomous text readers and video magnifiers.
 
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) resources are important tools for people with low vision and work through visual, sound and tactile interfaces or by combining them. The main device of this category is the computer, which, through software and resources, allows to meet the needs of each person with regard to magnification, contrast, text editing and sound support. The most commonly used resources by people with low vision, through the computer, are the screen magnifier software, which allows access to computers, acting as a virtual magnifying glass. Another option is the screen readers, which transmit the information contained on the computer screen through voice synthesizer
 
== Different Devices ==
 
=== Reading ===


=== Math ===
=== Math ===
It can be very challenging for children with visual impairment to learn math concepts.  It can be very difficult to interpret shapes, direction and quantification without visual input.  The following devices can help support them:
# Braille Systems
# tactile Geometric kit
# Talking Calculator<ref name=":0" />
[[File:320px-TSI Speech+ Talking Calculator 01.jpeg|thumb|Talking Calculator|alt=|center]]


=== Writing ===
=== Writing ===
Typical or visual writing can be particularly challenging for individuals with visual impairment.  The following devices can assist them:


=== Science Learning ===
# Large Computer Keyboards
# Audio Digital Recorder
# Braille Writing System<ref name=":0" />[[File:Braille-Makeyev tactile writing system.jpeg|thumb|500x500px|Braille Writing System|alt=|center]]
=== Orientation and Mobility ===
Walking is a necessary element of daily life.  Below is a list of a variety of canes that can assist individuals with visual impairment. 


=== Games and Leisure ===
# Walking: identifies objects in the path of the user
# Identification: notifies general public that the user has a visual impairment
# Guide: identifies curbs and steps for users with some residual visual function
# Support: provides physical support for the user
# Green: indicates user has low vision
# White: indicates user is blind
# Red and White: user has both visual and hearing impairment<ref name=":0" />[[File:Blind man walking with a long cane.jpeg|thumb|393x393px|Walking Cane|alt=|center]]
=== Activities of Daily Living (ADL) ===
Assistive technology can help individuals perform ADLs to allow more independence in their daily routine.  Below are some devices that can be incorporated into a visually impaired person's life:


=== Orientation and Mobility ===
# Talking watch
# Liquid level sensor: alerts the user about the level of liquid in a cup via sound or vibration
# Simplified mobile phone: easier to navigate
# Money identifier: identifies money with a voice function
# Color identifier: differentiates a variety of colors
# Pill organizer<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Pill Organizer With Vitamins And Medicines.jpeg|thumb|pill organizer|alt=|250x250px|center]]


=== ADL ===
== Smart Phones ==
Technological advances in smartphones have facilitated persons with visual impairments the ability to access information that increases their independence, participation and quality of life.  Smart phone features that users can access include:


== Smart Phone ==
# TalkBack: the device verbally speaks words upon the users touch; will read aloud what is under the user's finger
Many smart digital assistive technologies based on electronic information, communication technology for visual impairment have been gaining a lot of importance across the world in recent times [7, 8]. Such smart assistive technologies have many accessible features and accessible applications for persons with disabilitie. With ongoing advance in smartphone technologies, it is becoming even more feasible for the person with visual impairment to rely on mobile technology in understanding their immediate surrounding, and to access huge amounts information that can improve their level of independent functioning, movement, social inclusion, participation, educational activities, and finally helps in improving the quality of life. large number of accessible built-in features have been developed specifically for people with blindness and visual impairment. ost widely used built-in accessible feature as screen readers are TalkBack for Android (Figure 4) and VoiceOver for Apple iOS (Figure 5) among people with visual impairment [17]. The Talback feature allows the user to easily identify the content or applications icons on the smartphones’ screen with a verbally speak words or voice from the device upon touching with fingers on the icons. By simply placing a finger on the icons, the smartphone will read aloud what icon is underneath the finger. Similarly, VoiceOver provides voice feedback aloud what appear on the smartphones’ screen, so iOS operating smartphone can be used without the need of visual function. A visually disabled individual can slide around on the screen with finger until the desired icons is located.
# Voice Over: provides voice feedback in relation to what is on the screen; user can slide around on screen until they touch what they are looking for
# Zoom Magnification: magnifies the entire screen.<ref name=":4" />
== Resources ==


or a person with a low vision, the zoom magnification feature helps to magnify the entire screen to the required level of individual’s choice. Invert colors allows to change the white text on a black background, and vice versa or blue text on a yellow backgr (SENJAM SMARTPHONE ARTRICLE)- can use table feature insread
* [[Assistive Devices]]
* [https://www.physio-pedia.com/Vision_Impairment_in_children_with_Cerebral_Palsy Visual Impairment in Children with Cerebral Palsy]


== References  ==
== References  ==
see [[Adding References|adding references tutorial]]. 


<references /> 
<references /> 


[[Category:Assistive Technology Content Development Project]]
[[Category:Assistive Technology Content Development Project]]
[[Category:Course Pages]]
[[Category:Assistive Technology]]
[[Category:Rehabilitation]]
[[Category:ReLAB-HS Course Page]]
[[Category:Technology]]

Latest revision as of 10:05, 22 April 2024

Original Editor - Robin Tacchetti Top Contributors - Robin Tacchetti, Naomi O'Reilly and Kim Jackson

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Millions of people globally have vision loss or a visual impairment. Recent estimates that there are over 43 million blind people and 295 million people suffering from moderate-to-severe visual impairment with the majority of these individuals living in middle and low-income countries.[1] Visual impairment can be classified by one's visual acuity:

  • Blind: Vision Below 20/400
  • Low Vision: Corrected vision is less than 20/70 and greater than or equal to 20/400[2]


Visual impairment impacts quality of life in various ways such functional daily activities, indoor and outdoor movement, employment and independence. [3] Additionally, dangerous situations can occur when these individuals encounter environments unfamiliar to them.[4] These barriers individuals face daily can be overcome with the help of assistive technology.[1] The wide range of vision assistive technology can be a simple low-tech device (large print book) to an expensive high-tech solution such as a Refreshable Braille Display.[5] Recent advances in technology have expanded the digital assistive technology space.[1][4]

Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE)[edit | edit source]

In 2014, the World Health Organization introduced the Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE). This initiative's addresses the significant gap in all countries between supply and demand for assistive technology. GATE published a list of the top 50 priority assistive products based on widespread need amongst the disabled population. Of those 50 priority products, 16 are geared towards people with visual impairments. These vision assistive products help by the use of sound, smell, or sense of touch or vibration.[5]

Different Types of AT[edit | edit source]

  1. Optical:
    • prescribed by ophthalmologists
    • consist of one or more lenses to adjust/increase visual image
    • devices can include: eyeglasses, telescopes, contact lenses, magnifying glasses
  2. Non-optical
    • improve vision without use of lenses
    • simple, transform environment and materials
    • devices include: enlarged text, lighting, felt tip pens, contrasting colors, didactic books
  3. Electronic
    magnifying glass
    • provide access to printed material that optical magnifying glasses are not able to expand enough for reading
    • able to magnify up to 66 times without distortion
    • devices include: scanners, autonomous text readers, video magnifiers, electronic magnifying glass
  4. Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
    • works through a combination of sound, tactile and visual interfaces
    • devices include: computer, screen magnifier software, screen readers[2]

Assistive Visual Technology by Tasks[edit | edit source]

Reading[edit | edit source]

Many activities in our daily lives requires the act of reading. These assistive devices below can help individuals with visual impairment:

  1. large print books
  2. reading stands
  3. low vision lamps
  4. optimal magnifiers
  5. electronic magnification aids
  6. digital audio recorders
  7. screen readers
  8. braille reading systems[5]
braille alphabet

Math[edit | edit source]

It can be very challenging for children with visual impairment to learn math concepts. It can be very difficult to interpret shapes, direction and quantification without visual input. The following devices can help support them:

  1. Braille Systems
  2. tactile Geometric kit
  3. Talking Calculator[5]
Talking Calculator

Writing[edit | edit source]

Typical or visual writing can be particularly challenging for individuals with visual impairment. The following devices can assist them:

  1. Large Computer Keyboards
  2. Audio Digital Recorder
  3. Braille Writing System[5]
    Braille Writing System

Orientation and Mobility[edit | edit source]

Walking is a necessary element of daily life. Below is a list of a variety of canes that can assist individuals with visual impairment.

  1. Walking: identifies objects in the path of the user
  2. Identification: notifies general public that the user has a visual impairment
  3. Guide: identifies curbs and steps for users with some residual visual function
  4. Support: provides physical support for the user
  5. Green: indicates user has low vision
  6. White: indicates user is blind
  7. Red and White: user has both visual and hearing impairment[5]
    Walking Cane

Activities of Daily Living (ADL)[edit | edit source]

Assistive technology can help individuals perform ADLs to allow more independence in their daily routine. Below are some devices that can be incorporated into a visually impaired person's life:

  1. Talking watch
  2. Liquid level sensor: alerts the user about the level of liquid in a cup via sound or vibration
  3. Simplified mobile phone: easier to navigate
  4. Money identifier: identifies money with a voice function
  5. Color identifier: differentiates a variety of colors
  6. Pill organizer[5]
pill organizer

Smart Phones[edit | edit source]

Technological advances in smartphones have facilitated persons with visual impairments the ability to access information that increases their independence, participation and quality of life. Smart phone features that users can access include:

  1. TalkBack: the device verbally speaks words upon the users touch; will read aloud what is under the user's finger
  2. Voice Over: provides voice feedback in relation to what is on the screen; user can slide around on screen until they touch what they are looking for
  3. Zoom Magnification: magnifies the entire screen.[3]

Resources[edit | edit source]

References [edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Senjam SS. Smartphones for Vision Rehabilitation: Accessible Features and Apps, Opportunity, Challenges, and Usability Evaluation. InSoftware Usability 2021 May 7. IntechOpen.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 BORGES WF, MENDES EG. Usability of assistive technology applications by people with low vision. Revista Brasileira de Educação Especial. 2018 Oct;24:483-500.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Senjam SS, Manna S, Bascaran C. Smartphones-Based Assistive Technology: Accessibility Features and Apps for People with Visual Impairment, and its Usage, Challenges, and Usability Testing. Clinical optometry. 2021;13:311.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Hwang J, Kim KH, Hwang JG, Jun S, Yu J, Lee C. Technological opportunity analysis: Assistive technology for blind and visually impaired people. Sustainability. 2020 Oct 20;12(20):8689.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Senjam S. Assistive Technology for People with Visual Loss. Delhi Journal of Ophthalmology. 2019 Oct;30(2).

 

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