The Future for the Visually Impaired

Smart phones what an easy device to use with a couple of swipes and taps here and there. The screen we use so commonly to navigate through the phones many features, but what if you couldn't see the screen, the complicated features and variety of apps we’re all so attached were just a screen without any guidance through a minefield. Well the solution has arrived with the new smart phone called Georgie to help blind users to help with tasks like reading text, knowing there exacts locations in unknown areas and many other day to day tasks. Georgie demonstrates the vast improvement of technology over the years from a flip phone to a phone that’s specialized for the visually impaired and shows us how far technology can go further in the future.                      

Other than the idea of having a phone used by a blind user, this phone sums up every life necessity such as travel, communication and lifestyle all these include numerous day to day features such as record and send a text. From the communication necessity which is calling, the phone announces each number and saves the number for future references. Also when the user navigates through the contacts it announces each contact to ensure proper selection. Another marvelous feature of this phone is that it allows you to blog, therefore not separating you from the online world and maintaining an online profile. Moving on to the travel feature this phone allows blind users to input their point of intersection and even allow them to make a custom path so they can avoid leaning branches that might scrape against their face so it gives the user a heads up. In addition, this feature also can be used as an emergency because if the user is lost and in an unfamiliar place, it gives a signal to your family member exactly where you are standing so they can pick you up. There is also a feature called buses which tells the timing of the bus and which side of the road to stand on. To reduce confusion and mishaps this phone reads the user selection, to make sure of their selection. Moreover, looking at the lifestyle aspect this phone has a near me function which is used by a Google data base shows the users the nearest cafes, pubs, religious sites, etc. While at cafes, you might not know what’s on the menu but with the help of the camera function and audio assistance you can scan the menu at then Georgie announces it back to you. Therefore, encouraging the user to read more printed documents as well as giving the satisfaction of knowing properly what they order. And finally the core of the phone which is the question feature allows users to pose any question and Georgie will answer, much like Apple’s Siri but more visually impaired friendly since the phone is inclined to the blind community.

I believe that technology has improved drastically over the years, this phone has laid down what the future has to offer for the impaired in general. Just the other day I was surfing the web about technological improvements when I happened to come over a bionic arm for a double amputee was being controlled by an app on Apple, showing many hand gestures including a formal handshake and firm grasp. This phone gives the visually impaired independence to go or do whatever they want to do without their family members going along with them. Therefore, helping the user become more independent and also letting the family member know that they can go alone with the help of Georgie and in case of an emergency they can always use the feature which tells the family member that you’re in unknown place. Overall this phone creates independence and the feel of safety also shows us the direction which technology will take us.  

Aside from its features this has a positive impact on the society we live in, for example the awkward feeling we all have felt when you want to help the blind but what if they react negatively, this awkwardness won’t be an issue because Georgie creates independence for the visually impaired through its numerous amounts of features that help them. Society hasn’t neglected to improve technology for the impaired for example companies like Samsung and Apple create new phones every year leaving behind the impaired with its intricate features for the non-impaired but companies like Georgie support the impaired to the next level with impaired friendly apps. This creates a sense of fairness because before using a phone is only for non-impaired only and impaired should use the white cane but now the impaired can have these phones specialized for them and can go places with the help of their phones leaving the white cane behind. Therefore, technology for the non-impaired improves while the technology for impaired will increase side by side ensuring fairness. Lastly the government is encouraging the impaired to join the service industries, from this I can infer that technology will definitely improve to help the blind get into these jobs.

To conclude, Georgie is the foundation for the upcoming advancements in technology for the impaired. Georgie creates the sense of independence for the user because they can do or go whatever they want without their family member helping every second and also helps the family member become less worried about them because safety is ensured. Also with the help of big companies like Apple and Samsung they are creating apps for the impaired, it shows everyone is trying. Let’s all witness where technology will take us.