Easy-to-Use Portable Audio-Visual Reading Aids

For people with vision impairments or learning disabilities, easy-to-use portable audiovisual reading aids play an integral part in their daily lives. Relying on technological advances, the devices help with learning in the classroom, leisure activities such as reading, and getting around town. Without mobile devices that provide audiovisual capabilities for low vision, blindness or reading disabilities, an individual’s independence would be significantly hampered.

Assistive Technology Devices

• Assistive technology devices primarily help individuals with disabilities perform everyday functions with ease. Originally developed to fulfill requirements under the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (now known as the Assistive Technology Act), the devices are now very mainstream. These tools cover a wide spectrum, including mobility devices like wheelchairs, and software, hardware and service devices like TTY (teletypewriter) for the hearing impaired.

  Easy-to-use portable and mobile audiovisual reading aids are a group of assistive technology tools specifically designed for assisting individuals who have low vision resulting from eye disease or a learning disability that hinders cognitive abilities.

Portable Audiovisual Reading Aids

• Portable audiovisual reading aids allow the visually impaired individual to use the device in multiple locations by connecting the aid to another computer. For example, the Intel Reader, a portable device that resembles a digital camera, converts printed text to digital so the user can listen to it aloud as the text is displayed on the screen.

  For years, people with vision problems relied on magnifiers for reading print. Technology now enables a vision booster magnifier to provide portable accessibility by connecting to any computer monitor. Magnification is 24 times the size of the original book, magazine, newspaper or other printed material.

Mobile Audiovisual Reading Aids

• With mobile audiovisual reading aids, you can use the device while moving from one location to another without having to plug it into a computer or other device. As technology has driven on-the-go audiovisual reading aids, their presence is seen more widely in the classroom. Many replicate devices used by the general public, making them indistinguishable from mainstream technological devices.

  For example, the ClassMate Reader looks like a personal digital assistant (PDA), but works as an audiovisual reading aid for the learning impaired. Simultaneously displaying and reading text aloud, the portable book player improves cognitive learning by enhancing comprehension, reading speed and vocabulary. There are also PDAs retrofitted for providing speech or Braille options to complement the visual screen.

  Other mobile audiovisual reading aids are telescopic eyewear, prismatic eyeglasses that enhance your vision when reading and telescopic devices that can be attached to your glasses or held in your hand.