Top 3 Accessible iPhone Apps for the Blind and Visually Impaired

The iPhone has not only changed the way that the sighted communicate with one another and entertain themselves, it has revolutionized these areas of life for the blind and visually impaired also. Like their sighted counterparts, the blind and visually impaired are able to use the iPhone for multiple tasks that not only make life easier because they are able to communicate with just a few simple touches of a button while on the go, they are able to use their iPhone for a number of other functions, such as entertain themselves and obtaining useful information. If you are blind or visually impaired and are thinking of purchasing an iPhone for yourself or have one already, you will want to check out these top 3 accessible iPhone Apps for the blind and visually impaired.

SayText

SayText is an OCR app for the blind that will enable you to read printed text, similar to what the KNFB Reader and other such tools. This accessible iPhone app is very easy to use and requires virtually no learning curve.

To use this app, you will first need to place your iPhone in the center of the document in which you want to read and then double tap on the "take picture" button. Then, you will need to slowly lift the iPhone from off the document, so it can get a picture of the entire document. When you hear a beep sound, this indicates that the document has been detected. When the document is fully focused, the camera will take a picture automatically. Until you are able to read the document, tap on the screen to receive the progress status. When you are ready to read, swipe your finger to the right on the screen, and the app will begin reading your document.

You will be happy to know that you can download this app free of charge. Without any additional money out of your pocket, you can open your world to a number of possibilities and read all printed materials no matter where you are (Rewatson1).

MobiTV

This app is not released yet, but it will be in September of this year. This iPhone app will enable you to watch on demand content and common channels like Nickelodeon and ESPN. This iPhone app will enable you to watch just about all of the content on cable without paying the high monthly bill. This iPhone app will have VoiceOver support and be one hundred percent accessible. No pricing information is available about this app as of late because it is not yet released (Blind Access Journal).

IM+

IM+ is an instant messaging app that is one hundred percent accessible. If you are one who likes to instant message others, you can purchase it for $4 from the iTunes store, and you will be on your way to fun (Blind Access Journal).

Work Cited

Blind Access Journal. "Accessible Instant Messaging iPhone App Hits the iTunes Store." Blind Access
Journal. N.p., 2010. Web. 18 Aug. 2010. http://blindaccessjournal.com/?p=945.

Blind Access Journal. "Mobile TV Provider Plans Release of Accessible iPhone App." Blind Access
Journal. N.p., 2010. Web. 18 Aug. 2010. http://blindaccessjournal.com/?p=935.

Rbwatson1. "SayText: a Free, Accessible OCR App for Blind iPhone Users." The BAT Channel. N.p., 3
July 2010. Web. 17 Aug. 2010. http://thebatchannel.wordpress.com/2010/07/03/
saytext-a-free-accessible-ocr-app-for-blind-iphone-users/.