VoiceSense is a PDA Device for the Blind

Our society is one that is always on the go; we seem to have always be busy and have to properly schedule out what we are going to do. PDA devices help us plan out our busy schedules and stay connected with those we need to stay connected to. GW Micro wants to make this an option for blind people as well. The following is a review of their own PDA creation, the VoiceSense.

GW Micro understood that they needed to create something that would be like a touchscreen to the blind. The first step was to create a variety of buttons with Braille code written upon them. There is also a mic on the VoiceSense to capture all of your voice commands. These voice commands are a great asset to a blind person because they will be able to control their device not only by touch but through communication. The loudspeaker that is built into the device is also wonderful because it is very loud and powerful.

There is a lot of power within the VoiceSense as well. You will be excited to know that it has a built in Intel PXA270 520MHz processor. As for ram, it could be a bit better but comes with 1GB which is good enough. Other cool aspects include expansion slots for SD cards, WIFI capabilities, and a built in FM radio. All of this technology is used to help power the dozens upon dozens of different programs that come equipped in the VoiceSense.

This unique gadget provides a lot of help and entertainment to the blind community. They will be able to plan their busy schedules out, listen to music, and even browse the internet because of the WIFI capabilities. One negative is that the device only receives 12 hours of power before going completely dead on you. So a user should make sure that the VoiceSense is fully charged before going on a long business trip. Better yet, they are better off bringing the charger with them as well.

Some of you might be thinking of giving this as a gift but should be warned it does not come cheap. Not many PDA devices are affordable these days. You will have to come up with about $2000 dollars to own one of these. The price might seem high but the benefits far outweigh the negative aspects. A blind person will be given new alternatives and abilities to express themselves with the VoiceSense. It offers them a chance to enjoy the beauty of something we also get to enjoy. To me it is worth every penny and is a great product made by a great company.

Sources

Steven Mottor, My own Review, 2010

GW Micro, www.gwmicro.com, 2010