[ATI] Fw: android instead of Apple

[Reginald George]

I have no source for this information accept that it’s obviously from the UK.  Many blind people  want a smart phone with a very easy overlay to walk them through basic tasks.  At least in England it sounds like it’s here.  With some work I’m sure a person could order this software overseas on a sim card and put it on their A.T.T or TMobile phone in the US.   It’s an interesting article anyway.
Reg
Smartphone to help blind people goes on sale
The Georgie smartphone 

Georgie offers apps specially designed for blind people 

 

A smartphone designed for blind people has been launched.

 

Georgie, as the device is known, has a voice-assisted touchscreen and offers a variety of apps to help complete tasks such as catching a bus, reading printed

text and pinpointing location.

 

The phone was designed by blind husband-and-wife team Roger and Margaret Wilson-Hinds.

 

It was named after Mrs Wilson-Hinds' first guide dog.

 

First text 

 

The couple run a not-for-profit social enterprise Screenreader.

 

The handset is powered by an Android operating system and uses existing Samsung handsets such as the Samsung XCover and Galaxy Ace 2.

 

"I was able to send my very first text just earlier this year thanks to Georgie," said Mr Wilson-Hinds.

 

"It's exactly the type of digital experience we want to make easily available to people with little or no sight. It is also going to help solve everyday

problems for blind people so they can be more confident about navigating the real world and become independent," he said.

 

Robin Spinks, principal manager for digital accessibility at the Royal National Institute of Blind People, said: "Research continues to show that many blind

and partially-sighted people struggle with the complexity of today's smartphone technology. 

 

Margaret Wilson-Hinds 

Mrs Wilson-Hinds used the app to find out when the next bus was arriving 

 

Georgie is to be commended for allowing users to access the features of a range of modern smartphones in an easy-to-use and accessible manner," he added.

 

The smartphone lets users dial a number with the voice-assisted touchscreen and uses speech input to send text messages.

 

Other apps are available in three different bundles; travel, lifestyle and communicate. Each bundle costs £24.99.

 

The phone is being distributed by Sight and Sound Technology, a firm which provides hardware and software to blind and visually- impaired people.

 

It is available from £299 or, for those with existing Android smartphones, a downloadable version can be purchased from Google Play, priced at £149.

 

It comes pre-loaded with a data SIM card. Users with pre-existing phone contracts can have it transferred to the new device or install a pay-as-you-go SIM

card.

 

In the UK almost two million people are living with sight loss, with 360,000 registered as blind.

 

 
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