🚀 go-pugleaf

On Friday "kyte" was talking to Glimmerman about small phones...


G>Hi I just recently bought one of those cool new small sized phones
G>(Mototorola T191) - pretty nifty.
G>My eyesights failing and I'm finding it difficult to use these phones.
G>There must be some enhancements out there to make life easier for me.
G>Any suggestions?

K> dont get small phones.  I learnt the hard way also. (nokia 8310).
K> there are no enhancements, unless the Blind society has something.  My
K> eyes arent that bad yet.

For the record I'm severe low vision myself (6/24, 2/200, restricted field
with nystag etc etc)...


Far as I'm aware, the Royal Blind Society (RBS) of New South Wales
(Australia) Adaptive Tech unit don't have any software to help this (yet!) I
talked to them about this a few months ago, so this might have changed.
Nokia don't have any Adaptive Technology (AT) software solutions yet either


However, a friend of mine put me onto a hard, credit card size +10 diopta
(approx 2.75x magnification) lens. It's hard, and expands like a spy camera.
I usually stick that into a different pocket when carrying a small mobile.
Great for SMS on the run.


However, if that's not your style, a couple of other things to think about:

FOR TODAY:

If you don't like the idea of a magifyer, but you still like a small phone:

* If you can deal with bright, N10 text then check out the new Panasonic
folding phone (see http://www.panasonicmobile.com/frame/a_eng.html). While
not the smallest on the market, it's right up there, and the screen quality
sets a new benchmark. I'm giving that a serious think at the moment. I can
pick up bright N10 text, but at a strain.

* A dodgier solution: Thought about using the Hangspring Treo with a program
called TealMagnify (though I haven't tested this). This will enlarge to N16
(tops!). However, TealMagnify doesn't work like PC enlargement programs in
the fact you can either view (in big print) or interact (in small print)...

but...
FOR THE (possible) FUTURE:

* The newer phones from Nokia and SonyEric. support downloadable programs. I
haven't seen any adaptive tech programs for these platforms yet, but big
print is a feature that low vision people (and voice synth for that matter)
for a long time... This may provide the facility to upgrade the
manufacturer's phone.



Hope this helps!

Willing to lend a hand on this, Adaptive Technology is close to my heart.


M.

PS For the other readers and posters: My mates make jokes about my vision
impairement all the time, and I think it's great. (for instance, M starts
the night blind, even before he's had anything to drink!)

And yes, some of you were right with the suggested 'larger phone' solution.

However, if it's possible, and their is an opportunity, and it doesn't cause
too much stress, then why shouldn't a vision impaired person have the same
choices (within reason) as a fully sighted person. There **is** enlargement
programs for other platforms, if this guy chooses a smaller phone, why
should it be denied to him because of something outside of his control.  He
also might not want to 'flaunt' his vision impairment to all and sundry,
similiar to how other minorities also choose to keep their differences
descreet from time to time.

Don't mean to get upset or anything over this, just wanting to celebrate how
good mates sometimes take the mickey (which is healthy) but balance that
against at least trying to give everyone a fair go.