Some New Innovative Equipment at the
Assistive Technology for the Blind Department
By Johnny Haynes
Technology is buzzing at the Assistive Technology for the Blind Department on the Gentry campus here in Talladega, Alabama. There are many new innovative new products available that make life so much easier for people who are blind or have low vision. Of course, these products are expensive, but when they allow you to do things you’ve not been able to do they are well worth each and every penny they cost.
HIMS Inc. has introduced the Blaze ET, an upgrade from the Blaze EZ. The Blaze ET has the same features as the Blaze EZ but with some great & new features. The Blaze ET in general is a book reader and will play Daisy books, the user can download these books directly on the device using a Wi-Fi connection, plus it will do so much more. It will play audio or music files as well as audio books that are not in the Daisy format. A file manager where you can browse through all the files on the Blaze ET. With a built in camera you can take pictures of documents and have them read to you using the OCR feature. With the Blaze ET you also have the capability to listen to the radio or to the web radio. There are several programs that really make the Blaze ET stand out among book readers, these include: a calculator, a color identifier, memos that you enter using the number keypad as a telephone keypad, an alarm clock, and a dictionary option that does cost extra. And if you are really wanting something extra you can even contact friends and family using Skype on the Blaze ET. Of course the picture is not available because there is no screen, but the sound is. Another great feature is the ability to download Braille books and read them by connecting a Braille display to the Blaze ET via Bluetooth. With 12 GB of internal memory, an external SD card slot, 12 hours of battery life, as well as a built in help system, the Blaze ET is an all around awesome device that provides many great features for assisting people who have visual problems.
Another great product is the Smart Beetle. This is a 14 cell refreshable Braille display. This compact, power packed device is awesome. It allows up to 4 Bluetooth connections at one time, as well as 1 USB connection. Now you can’t enter or read information on all these connected devices at once, but you can switch from one to the other with a simple keystroke. One great feature that I like especially about the Smart Beetle is that when you are pairing it to an iOS Apple device like an iPhone, you do not have to enter a pairing code to pair the devices. With a 20 hour battery life and built-in help system it is a great Braille display. It is compact and extremely portable.
There are new and great features with Apples’ iOS version 9. Some of these features include: Apple pay, scan your credit cards with your phone and use your phone and your finger print to pay at stores that accept it, keep track with your health with the new health app built-in to the latest iOS version, and the hand off feature which lets you start something on one device, like an iPhone, and finish it on another device, like an iPad or iPod Touch. However, please note that both devices must have the same iCloud account. There is one feature I would suggest that everyone who owns a smart phone of any kind whether it is an Apple iPhone or tablet like an iPad or an Android telephone or tablets, is to use the Find my Device feature. Many smart devices now have this feature built into the software, and this is truly a wonderful feature. If you misplace, lose your phone, or it is stolen, you can go to the internet to the web page of www.icloud.com (for Apple devices), and get a map of where your phone is currently located. You can even lock that device, send a message to someone who may have taken your device, or even wipe it clean so they can’t get your personal information off of it. You can also make the device make a noise to help you locate it if you have misplaced it. This is truly a great feature that works across the board and is something everyone should consider when using a smart device of any kind. I am sorry to say however that I do not know of the web page to go to when you want to find an Android device, I would recommend that you speak with your service provider for this information.
Also released this year is Apple’s new iPad Pro. This device comes with the largest screen Apple has ever had on an iOS device thus far. With a 12.9 inch screen it is a remarkable device and is great especially for people with low vision who use the built in magnifier feature. It works just like all of the other iOS devices out there, with the same gestures.
Although I have only mentioned a few new devices available on the market today there are many, many more. If you have any questions, need help with a device, or in choosing a device please feel free to contact me at the Assistive Technology for the Blind Department at: (256) 761-3423 or by email at “Haynes.johnny@aidb.state.al.us “. And always remember our services are absolutely free to anyone who is legally blind and lives in the State of Alabama. Please feel free to email or call with any questions you have about assistive technology devices.
(Edited by Joel Stephens - original submission Thursday, 10 March 2016, 10:32 AM)