Smartphone: A smart assistive device for people visual disabilities among COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Smartphones are becoming one of the most indispensable gadgets for everyone in today's digital world, with the continued incorporation of computer technology. For the past few years, the interaction between human and smartphone content has been improved significantly with innovative technologies using gestures, haptic, and sound instead of visual-based interaction. Such technologies are in the form of built-in features and accessible apps. Such an advanced way of interface design helps to access not only the content in phones but also assist to perform daily living activities. Evidence shows that such smartphones technology help in executing a wide range of functioning among people with visual impairment. Today, the COVID-19 pandemic causes a challenge to everyone, including one living with a vision loss, in maintaining the daily supplies and civic life. Unfortunately, the majority of such people cannot access smartphones, so they depend on a simple basic phone. It is the time to promote the benefits of such evolving smartphones technology in all the corners of the health-care sectors, practitioners, special educators, and even family members. Meanwhile, the relevant ministerial divisions of the Government of India need to develop a clear policy to augment access to smartphones, particularly among people with visual disabilities.

Keywords

• accessibility
• accessible applications
• india
• smartphones
• visual disabilities