iPhone iPod Plus

Because of its smooth surface were phones with touch screens for the Blind currently unusable. A new application aims to change this.

A blind and a non-disabled developer of Internet giant Google have applications for the Android-based touch screen mobile phone T-Mobile G1, which is visually impaired, despite missing digits blocks to control the orientation of the device allow. Moreover, seeing mobile freaks whom their fingers behind the tax is not on their cell phones can, by the application benefit. This could touchscreens operate without looking.

How the application

After installing the free mobile phone software offered, the G1 on various fields of application, the blind everyday in dealing with the phone easier. When you dial a phone number, the application detects the touch of the touch-screen locally. Regardless of where the screen is touched the machine the pressure on the digit 5. To enter other numbers to be able to move the fingers of the user under constant touch in each of the conventional number pad corresponding direction – for about a 1 to the left above, for a 9 on the bottom right. When incorrect entries must simply shake the device in order to delete a number.

“The smooth operation of the features to learn, there is probably only for true fans and mobile freaks possible”, says Carsten Albrecht, computer expert and programmer in the Joint Technical Committee for Information and Communication Systems (FIT) of the German Blind and Visually Impaired Association DBSV in conversation with the agency press release. «Restricted Motorized blind brings a purely software-based solution for touch screens probably no special relief in dealing with mobile phones,” says the expert.

According to him, even when there are too few traditional phones satisfactory solutions and numerous complaints due to small numbers block. “The operation of a touch screen without the possibility of orientation is, in spite of such an application even more difficult,” says Albrecht.

The use remains difficult

In addition to a support function for text input is based on gestures, a localization function to start the GPS data or mobile phone masts tracking data with Google Maps and the G1 combines compass. “For the Apple iPhone have been films with different markers developed to coordinate the movements to be able to. In addition, there are for traditional mobile voice spending, according to the keys to be able to operate. The use of touchscreens for the blind, however, remains difficult, “said Albrecht.