VI Tech Experience & Beyond

In my previous post, I spoke about why it is not easy for a blind person to purchase an Android device, mainly due to varied UI experiences and Google’s abrupt changes, which might lead to breaking accessibility. However, there are 2 circumstances where there is a need to have an Android device. Let’s look at them: 1. Work Requirements If the organization you are working for has their software that only runs on Android, or if the software you use works only on Android, then purchasing an Android device becomes necessary. 2. Better Support for Certain Languages Some languages are read properly by Google’s TTS. For example, Telugu and Hindi. which have poor pronunciation with the Cerence voices provided by Apple. So, please do proper research, such as watching videos and asking questions in forums, to find out whether your language works well with Apple’s TTS. Except for these two situations, there is no real need to buy an Android device as a blind person. My take is: if these situation...

Many people look for Android devices as they are more cost-effective than iOS. However, they are not easy for blind people due to the varied experience in Android. Unlike iOS, the Android user experience varies a lot. Even in the same brand, the device which I am using and the device you are using will not give the same level of accessibility experience. This is due to: Combination of UIs, Manufacturer Agreements, and Google's way of dealing with software changes. Different brands use different UIs, and sometimes even in the same brand, the UI changes. Also, Google is very slow to react to accessibility problems and very abrupt with software changes which might break accessibility. Due to this, the accessibility experience varies greatly. Along with this, manufacturer agreements and decisions also affect how accessibility features are provided and updated. The most recent thing I can remember is that my friend bought a Samsung phone and got the Samsung TalkBack, which is diff...

If you are a totally visually impaired person, a USB headset can be very helpful for achieving most tasks and getting you out of trouble on Windows, compared to other wired headsets or wireless/Bluetooth headsets. Here’s why: A USB headset generaly works with generic drivers. which is already available on most Windows PCs. This means that if, for any reason      , the audio driver on your computer stops working or is not installed, the USB headset can come to your rescue. They also work with Windows bootable media. As a result, you can perform a clean installation by yourself without needing external assistance. Hence, a USB headset is a must-have tool for a visually impaired person. However, please verify that the USB headset you are going to buy, as well as your computer, supports generic audio drivers before making a purchase.