Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Smartphone and keyboard as a solution for blind education in Development countries ? (self.Blind)
submitted by suvawa
I am working voluntarily for a non Profit organization.
Our current project is the implementation of an inclusive secondary high school in Sierra Leone. My NGO already got approval of funds. We will have a total of around 120 Students attending and need to supply around 80 blind students with devices. Due to very limited funds, braille displays will not be possible for blind students. For the same reason Laptops would not be possible. I have been working a lot in primary schools in Sierra Leone and was facing a lot of power outages and very dusty schoolrooms. We will have a total of around 120 Students attending and need to supply around 80 blind students with digital devices to be able to work on assignments.
My current thought would be to set up a combination of Bluetooth keyboard and smartphones in combination with the read back function of the smartphone (using headphones). I would prefer iPhones as my students in Germany are super happy in combination with braille displays. But again funds are tight so probably Android phones will be more reasonable.
Any tips or ideas regarding my idea would be super appreciated. I know it wouldn't be the best solution, but it's better than not enabling blind students access to higher education.
Have a happy sunday :)
Our current project is the implementation of an inclusive secondary high school in Sierra Leone. My NGO already got approval of funds. We will have a total of around 120 Students attending and need to supply around 80 blind students with devices. Due to very limited funds, braille displays will not be possible for blind students. For the same reason Laptops would not be possible. I have been working a lot in primary schools in Sierra Leone and was facing a lot of power outages and very dusty schoolrooms. We will have a total of around 120 Students attending and need to supply around 80 blind students with digital devices to be able to work on assignments.
My current thought would be to set up a combination of Bluetooth keyboard and smartphones in combination with the read back function of the smartphone (using headphones). I would prefer iPhones as my students in Germany are super happy in combination with braille displays. But again funds are tight so probably Android phones will be more reasonable.
Any tips or ideas regarding my idea would be super appreciated. I know it wouldn't be the best solution, but it's better than not enabling blind students access to higher education.
Have a happy sunday :)
macadamia_owl 1 points 2y ago
Why phones? There are cheap Android tablets in the same price with the same accessibility features. Using gestures on bigger screen is so much easier and much more comfortable for hands/fingers.
For this use pair that up with cheap Bluetooth keyboards or use OTG cables to use ordinary USB keyboards to not worry about battery life of keyboards - plug them to tablets/phones. No need to buy high end models even those from few years back have enough accessibility level.
I just loved to use my Nexus 9 LTE like that for years but it died suddenly after 5 years of use :( others used heavy 17 inch laptops that batteries ran out after 3-4 hours and all fought for outlets to plug in, my setup (tablet + stand + Bluetooth keyboard) lasted twice as long and if i needed power i plugged it to Powerbank (i had even solar one that loaded from sun shining all day into our classroom). I could take audio notes much easier too, my back pain was gone because it weighted much less than any laptop still i could open any file type from pendrive, hard drive or cloud. All were so envy, other one had Windows Lenovo cheap tablet was using NVDA or Narrator but school didn't liked we use not rented devices from them so they banned that!
For this use pair that up with cheap Bluetooth keyboards or use OTG cables to use ordinary USB keyboards to not worry about battery life of keyboards - plug them to tablets/phones. No need to buy high end models even those from few years back have enough accessibility level.
I just loved to use my Nexus 9 LTE like that for years but it died suddenly after 5 years of use :( others used heavy 17 inch laptops that batteries ran out after 3-4 hours and all fought for outlets to plug in, my setup (tablet + stand + Bluetooth keyboard) lasted twice as long and if i needed power i plugged it to Powerbank (i had even solar one that loaded from sun shining all day into our classroom). I could take audio notes much easier too, my back pain was gone because it weighted much less than any laptop still i could open any file type from pendrive, hard drive or cloud. All were so envy, other one had Windows Lenovo cheap tablet was using NVDA or Narrator but school didn't liked we use not rented devices from them so they banned that!
retrolental_morose 1 points 2y ago
I've actually found this works the other way around when working with children, especially those with no sight at all. They lose their place more easily on a larger-screened device and find a phone sized works well, and also preps them for using a phone outside of the classroom.
Also, so many of the accessibility apps the blind rely on (for things like GPS, using a camrea for reading etc) work better on a phone.
Also, so many of the accessibility apps the blind rely on (for things like GPS, using a camrea for reading etc) work better on a phone.
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
[deleted]
retrolental_morose 2 points 2y ago
Are Chromebooks not comparable in price to a higher-end android device?
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
[deleted]
retrolental_morose 1 points 2y ago
I've not used them either, but given that some chromebooks can run android apps and you're wanting this setup for a school, I'd have thought the pull of GSuite and the ability to do some android if necessary would have been a reasonable solution.
I don't think Chromevox is any less effective, particularly in web apps, than talkback.
I don't think Chromevox is any less effective, particularly in web apps, than talkback.
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