Apple for the eye

When you're blind or have low vision, doing things like reading in dim light or telling the colour of your clothes can be hard. There is software for the iPhone that can help you with these tasks.

There are apps to increase text size and to light pages up for easier reading. Other apps can even tell you what colour clothes you're wearing, or tell you if you have left on the lights.

This story looks at a few of these types of applications for the iPhone. There are many more, both free and available to buy from the iStore.

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Posted by: Graeme Turner, on 07/12/12

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Social media and disability

Social media like Facebook and Twitter is a great way to keep in touch with friends. But it is also used in other important ways. Facebook is used to show support for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Disability organisations use it to let people know about important issues and events. Social media can also be a great way for people with a disability to get their opinions heard. In Britain thousands of people used Twitter to show they were unhappy with the government which was thinking about making payment cuts for people with a disability.

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Posted by: Deanne Newton, on 18/10/12

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Smartphone assistance

I said I did not need a smartphone. I was happy with my old mobile phone. I also had mobile internet for my notebook computer. But then I discovered I could replace two things with one smartphone. And it would not be more expensive. My new iPhone 4 does a lot more than my old devices for the same price. It makes life easier. There are thousands of applications available for the iPhone. But I am still looking for more applications for people with a disability.

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Posted by: Maureen Corrigan, on 02/08/11

2 comments - last comment on 28/11/11

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Talking set-top boxes

Your old television might soon not work anymore. Those with old televisions might need to add a set-top box. The new digital format is an improvement. It offers better quality pictures and sound. There are also new channels to watch. But digital television also presents barriers to some people with a disability. Digital television uses on-screen menus and electronic program guides. The menus rely on people having sight. A trial scheme has tested talking set-top boxes to solve the program. The talking set-top boxes can read out information on the screen.

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Posted by: Graeme Turner, on 28/09/11

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Voices in the Dark

A team of independent developers is making a video game without graphics. People with a vision impairment will be able to enjoy the game. It will rely on people using their hearing and imagination. The developers want to give players a new experience. Early feedback has been very positive. Gamers like 19-year-old James are looking forward to playing. The team uses two microphones at once to record sounds. The technique allows them to create sound with the perception of space and depth. People can then navigate the 3D world using just their hearing.

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Posted by: Carl Thompson, on 03/11/11

1 comment - last comment on 29/11/11

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What's in store?

Apple's App Store has over 420,000 software applications to download. The applications are for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. There are a lot of great applications for people with a disability. But it can be hard to find them. One of the best I have found is Proloquo2go. It is a tool for people who have difficulty speaking. Good free applications for fitness and health include Physiotherapy Exercises and RaceYourWorld. I also like Draw for iPad. It lets you draw pictures and play games.

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Posted by: Karen Peatt, on 14/09/11

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