Having access to technology can enhance almost
every aspect of our lives. Being included is very much about being connected. Whether
it's for online shopping, Internet banking, or simply staying in touch with friends or
family, technology plays a pivotal role in everyone's lives.
It's very, very simple to get started with technology. You can learn bit by bit and day
by day. So in this short series of videos we've broken down all of the popular topics
and questions around technology and we've made it really simple and user friendly and
we hope that you find it to be a very valuable resource.
Hi, I'm Robin Spinks, I'm 39 years old, I'm partially sighted and I am a gadget enthusiast
and I have to say that the smart phone is my device of choice.
Ellie Southwood: Hi, I'm Ellie Southwood.
I've been blind all my life and so have got
into the latest technology, every time it's come around and this time it's been smartphones.
Madleen Mann: Hi I'm Madleen Mann. I am 30 years old, I have been blind all my life,
and I could not live without my iPhone any more.
Robin: Now, over the past few years there has been an explosion in the use of smartphones.
Now, if you're not too sure what a smartphone is, quite simply, it's a very clever mobile
phone that can perform all sorts of really valuable functions, all made possible by being
connected to the Internet.
Let's get down to the nitty gritty, there's a lot out there,
Ellie, where do we start? Ellie: I think we start with what on earth
do you want to do with it? So there's things in the market, if you want to simply make
and receive calls. There are things in the market, if you want to go on the Internet.
Robin: Madleen, you're a smartphone user, aren't you? Tell us a bit about what you currently
use. Madleen: I currently use an iPhone 5.
Robin: How does that work, if you're a person who doesn't have useful vision?
Madleen: The iPhone comes with a screen reader called Voiceover and it's very easy to switch
that on when you first get your iPhone. Robin: How do you interact with a touch screen
that's essentially a flat surface, if you actually don't have anything there to feel?
Madleen: You get to know, for example, where your cancel button is, or where your keyboard
is on the screen.
Ellie: I'm a huge smartphone fan but I guess
not everybody is going to want to use a touch screen phone or smartphone.
Robin: The most important thing is to really explore. Try out the options that are available,
and find out what works best for you, and if you need any help with that, you can get
in touch and discuss your options.
Now, if you don't want a traditional computer,
another option that you could consider is a tablet. Tablets essentially occupy the space…
between a smartphone and a traditional computer. They're becoming really popular with people
who are blind or partially sighted. A tablet will allow you to do most of the things that
a traditional computer would do, but with much more portability, and it will allow you
to use built-in accessibility features. Ellie: It sounds like these might be brilliant
for people, who've got some sight, so they might want to enlarge things on the screen,
where a smartphone screen just isn't big enough. Where do you see them being useful for people
with no useful vision, Madleen? Madleen: Some people would say that having
a tablet would enable them to use the keyboard a bit better and people like that, they don't
want a tiny thing.
Ellie: The other thing I've always wondered
about is cameras. There's lots of hype about how good a pixel cameras have. What use is
a camera to someone who can't see? Madleen: The camera can be very useful. Want
to know what you've got in your cupboard? The camera enables you to scan your product,
and know, is it a tin of tomatoes or is it a tin of baked beans.
Robin: And it's important to remember that the latest tablets. all have some level of
accessibility features built in. Prices range from about £159 upwards, but the most important
things Find out what you want to do with the device,
Keep it simple, Explore what is available before making a choice.
Thank you both for your contributions and if you want to find out more information,
you can do so by getting in touch with us via our helpline.
