Smartphones-Based Assistive Technology: Accessibility Features and Apps for People with Visual Impairment, and its Usage, Challenges, and Usability Testing

Suraj Singh Senjam,1 Souvik Manna,1 Covadonga Bascaran2 1Department of Community Ophthalmology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India; 2International Centre for Eye Health, Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygie...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales:	Senjam SS, Manna S, Bascaran C
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Dove Medical Press 2021
Materias:	assistive technology smartphones accessible applications visual impairment usage Ophthalmology RE1-994
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/b6c94091eb3d47f9af9480dea63e0138
Etiquetas:	Agregar Etiqueta Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!

id	oai:doaj.org-article:b6c94091eb3d47f9af9480dea63e0138
record_format	dspace
spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:b6c94091eb3d47f9af9480dea63e01382021-11-28T19:13:10ZSmartphones-Based Assistive Technology: Accessibility Features and Apps for People with Visual Impairment, and its Usage, Challenges, and Usability Testing1179-2752https://doaj.org/article/b6c94091eb3d47f9af9480dea63e01382021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.dovepress.com/smartphones-based-assistive-technology-accessibility-features-and-apps-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OPTOhttps://doaj.org/toc/1179-2752Suraj Singh Senjam,1 Souvik Manna,1 Covadonga Bascaran2 1Department of Community Ophthalmology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India; 2International Centre for Eye Health, Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UKCorrespondence: Suraj Singh SenjamDepartment of Community Ophthalmology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, IndiaEmail drsurajaiims@gmail.comAbstract: Smartphones are less likely to be considered as assistive technology for visual impairment among a large majority of health care providers, excluding vision rehabilitation professionals, and the general public who are not familiar with accessible features and apps. The present review aims to highlight accessible features and apps along with usages, including educational, and access to smartphones as assistive technology for visual impairment and blindness. It also includes advantages and challenges faced by users, and usability testing by app developers. There have been significant recent developments in mobile technology that incorporate computer technology relating to electronic information, communication, and touch-screen accessibility. Such advances in technology are transforming the use of smartphones from a traditional visual interface to a truly visual free interaction using alternative body senses, such as haptic, gesture, and so on. There are many built-in accessible features and third-party accessible applications that enable people with visual impairment to perform daily activities, independent functioning, movement, social inclusion and participation, education, etc. They are universally designed, so they are unlikely to induce social stigma or negative reactions from peers or public. Healthcare practitioners, not limiting to eye care, and caregivers, family members, teachers, or special educators should be informed about the potential uses and benefits of smartphones for visually impaired in developing nations. Evidence shows that most of the users train by themselves. Enhancing the awareness along with training for teachers and caregivers would be helpful to improve access and skills among users with visual disabilities. Developers are continuously producing more innovative applications for visual impairment, which indicates the need for having a training guideline on the use of smartphones.Keywords: assistive technology, smartphones, accessible applications, visual impairment, usageSenjam SSManna SBascaran CDove Medical Pressarticleassistive technologysmartphonesaccessible applicationsvisual impairmentusageOphthalmologyRE1-994ENClinical Optometry, Vol Volume 13, Pp 311-322 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	assistive technology smartphones accessible applications visual impairment usage Ophthalmology RE1-994
spellingShingle	assistive technology smartphones accessible applications visual impairment usage Ophthalmology RE1-994 Senjam SS Manna S Bascaran C Smartphones-Based Assistive Technology: Accessibility Features and Apps for People with Visual Impairment, and its Usage, Challenges, and Usability Testing
description	Suraj Singh Senjam,1 Souvik Manna,1 Covadonga Bascaran2 1Department of Community Ophthalmology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India; 2International Centre for Eye Health, Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UKCorrespondence: Suraj Singh SenjamDepartment of Community Ophthalmology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, IndiaEmail drsurajaiims@gmail.comAbstract: Smartphones are less likely to be considered as assistive technology for visual impairment among a large majority of health care providers, excluding vision rehabilitation professionals, and the general public who are not familiar with accessible features and apps. The present review aims to highlight accessible features and apps along with usages, including educational, and access to smartphones as assistive technology for visual impairment and blindness. It also includes advantages and challenges faced by users, and usability testing by app developers. There have been significant recent developments in mobile technology that incorporate computer technology relating to electronic information, communication, and touch-screen accessibility. Such advances in technology are transforming the use of smartphones from a traditional visual interface to a truly visual free interaction using alternative body senses, such as haptic, gesture, and so on. There are many built-in accessible features and third-party accessible applications that enable people with visual impairment to perform daily activities, independent functioning, movement, social inclusion and participation, education, etc. They are universally designed, so they are unlikely to induce social stigma or negative reactions from peers or public. Healthcare practitioners, not limiting to eye care, and caregivers, family members, teachers, or special educators should be informed about the potential uses and benefits of smartphones for visually impaired in developing nations. Evidence shows that most of the users train by themselves. Enhancing the awareness along with training for teachers and caregivers would be helpful to improve access and skills among users with visual disabilities. Developers are continuously producing more innovative applications for visual impairment, which indicates the need for having a training guideline on the use of smartphones.Keywords: assistive technology, smartphones, accessible applications, visual impairment, usage
format	article
author	Senjam SS Manna S Bascaran C
author_facet	Senjam SS Manna S Bascaran C
author_sort	Senjam SS
title	Smartphones-Based Assistive Technology: Accessibility Features and Apps for People with Visual Impairment, and its Usage, Challenges, and Usability Testing
title_short	Smartphones-Based Assistive Technology: Accessibility Features and Apps for People with Visual Impairment, and its Usage, Challenges, and Usability Testing
title_full	Smartphones-Based Assistive Technology: Accessibility Features and Apps for People with Visual Impairment, and its Usage, Challenges, and Usability Testing
title_fullStr	Smartphones-Based Assistive Technology: Accessibility Features and Apps for People with Visual Impairment, and its Usage, Challenges, and Usability Testing
title_full_unstemmed	Smartphones-Based Assistive Technology: Accessibility Features and Apps for People with Visual Impairment, and its Usage, Challenges, and Usability Testing
title_sort	smartphones-based assistive technology: accessibility features and apps for people with visual impairment, and its usage, challenges, and usability testing
publisher	Dove Medical Press
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/b6c94091eb3d47f9af9480dea63e0138
work_keys_str_mv	AT senjamss smartphonesbasedassistivetechnologyaccessibilityfeaturesandappsforpeoplewithvisualimpairmentanditsusagechallengesandusabilitytesting AT mannas smartphonesbasedassistivetechnologyaccessibilityfeaturesandappsforpeoplewithvisualimpairmentanditsusagechallengesandusabilitytesting AT bascaranc smartphonesbasedassistivetechnologyaccessibilityfeaturesandappsforpeoplewithvisualimpairmentanditsusagechallengesandusabilitytesting
_version_	1718407793258528768

Smartphones-Based Assistive Technology: Accessibility Features and Apps for People with Visual Impairment, and its Usage, Challenges, and Usability Testing

Ejemplares similares