I am often asked how
do I use this or that piece of technology. So to simplify things, I
figured I’d write some about the adaptive technology I use
everyday. Now, I am out of the loop on the latest that is out there;
when you have to pay for things yourself, it tends to make one less
exuberant to always be on top of the trend. So I will talk about
what I use and any of my friends feel free to include what they use
that I may have overlooked or been unaware of.
Let’s start with
the computer and smart phone, as I would say those are the most two
common devices I am asked about. For both, the answer is very
similar. There are apps that can be downloaded that will convert
text on the computer or phone screen into spoken speech. I can then,
using various keyboard or gesture commands, interact with what I’m
hearing. So, with these awesome programs for which I am very
thankful, I can read email, write documents, make spreadsheets,
browse the internet or send text messages. As to phones, I sometimes
make use of Google’s voice recognition for texting, but I find this
usually more annoying than helpful. It often gets words incorrect
and I find it is so much easier to just type out the text using my
wireless keyboard.
Now let’s take
printed material, like mail. Now my usual fix for this is just to
ask Luke :) but there are apps that have been developed for phones,
that can take a picture of the document, using the phone’s camera
and then the picture can be recognized and the text read aloud. It
really is quite incredible. I don’t utilize this myself, as
honestly, what printed material I do have to work through can be done
with Luke’s help just as quickly and easily. But for those who
don’t have a sighted family member nearby, these apps are amazing
things! As of yet, I’m not familiar with anything that can
recognize handwritten text, which given the variety and styles of
handwriting makes sense. The technology has come a long way in this
area though; I remember using a stand-alone, large and bulky machine
that scanned a page at a time and then would read it aloud, after a
bit of processing time per page. Then, it was shaved down to the
computer and its scanner and now it’s in the phone. That
technology is becoming smaller and more accurate and it is exciting.
Now, let’s go to
something a bit more mundane, household appliances. There are a few
ways to do this. I have a braille labeler, which I can use to type
out braille labels that can then be taped on the spot on the screen,
buttons or dials etc. Or, I can use the lazier method, and put
pieces of tape on the appropriate spot. This is how I have my oven,
microwave and washer/drier labeled and it gets the job done. Not
everything has to be high tech. :)
I suppose the last
one to tackle is driving. I usually get rides from my husband :) or
uber. There is also the bus system but that usually takes much
longer to get anywhere that way. I am excited to see if self-driving
cars will take off, no pun intended there :). While I’m a bit
nervous about the concept, it would also mean so much freedom for me
and so many others. It would be quite an experience, that’s for
sure.
Well, I hope this
has given you an interesting look into my world and how I get things
done. I am so glad to have been born in the late 20th
century, when so many technological breakthroughs have been
happening. That is something I never want to take for granted.
