We are probably familiar with many types of wearables - the ones we wear on our wrists that can track activities and provide notifications.  There is another wearable under development that can be used like a  personal assistant by blind people and can help them navigate their environment …

Off and on, you may have heard or read about Internet of Things (IoT). In the coming years, it is supposed to be a new phenomenon (it actually already is) that will make everything much easier and convenient for everyone. But what does it mean? What exactly is it, and how would it help people with d…

Every child, one way or the other, sooner or later, starts to read stories from children's books. These books are short and sweet, introduce children to objects around them, and help them understand a lot of important concepts at a very early age.But how would a blind or visually impaired child lear…

Are there solutions out there for people with low vision to help them see things around them much more clearly than they are used to? We know there is the eSight eyewear available that captures images via a camera and displays them in screens housed in the eyewear. Although a viable solution, one bi…

Are you familiar with Bookshare?Bookshare is a massive online library, and the world's largest collection of accessible titles that consists of almost 400,000 digital books meant for people around the world with print disabilities. Any person who has been confirmed by an expert that they have  …

When it comes to communicating via email or text messaging, deaf people have to rely on English or other language keyboards even though sign language may be their primary language. Although deaf people read, write and lip read in their surrounding language, sign language can be independent of that. …

By now we know that smart watches have sort of become a way of life for many people. Meant to be a companion for your smart phone, there are lots of conveniences a smart watch brings like time, email & phone notifications, steps taken, appointments, alarms, etc. But how good is a smart watch for…

In the past, we have seen quite a few instances where people have been able to control their prosthetics with just their thoughts. Recently, a team of researchers at Johns Hopkins used the Myo armband on an amputee to help him control his prosthetic arm with his mind. The Myo armband is a $199 band …

Remember Bruce Hall? The legally blind photographer who was raising money to publish  a book consisting of photographs of his twins with Autism? Well, Bruce managed to raise the amount needed to publish that book right just before the campaign ended. Also, this post is not about that campa…

A big hurdle for people in wheelchairs is that they need accessibility (ramps, automatic doors, alternative entrances) to enter buildings conveniently. They may be familiar with accessibility options at places they frequent but how about a new location they need to visit? A new restaurant or busines…

People with hearing impairment often have trouble communicating with loved ones who do not understand sign language. A majority of them are indeed lip readers but only 30 to 40 percent of English can be understood by reading lips. Also, several sounds look identical, thus adding to the complexity of…

In recent news, we have seen all sorts of innovation that will help blind people navigate with ease in the future. We know about beacons in the UK that will soon become a reality, and also the Sunu Band that vibrates when there is an obstacle  in a blind person's path. But is this where innovat…

Wearable trackers/bracelets are becoming a way of life. They come in all shapes and forms (and costs) and are fairly affordable. However, how does a blind person use one? Also, can a wearable tracker be used by visually impaired people for doing something totally different - like maybe help them nav…

If you walk a lot to get from one place to another, you probably appreciate a good pair of shoes that make your walk comfortable. What if that same shoe could tell you where to go?Lechal shoes and insoles, that connect to a phone app via bluetooth do exactly that. All one has to do is enter their de…