Touch screens: An invisible hurdle for blind people in everyday life

Touch screens: An invisible hurdle for blind people in everyday life

blind and visually impaired people often face major challenges when dealing with modern technologies. An example of this is Gerd Widmann, who has difficulty operating a ticket machine based on a touchscreen at the station in Waiblingen. Although this machine offers a contact detection, the writing on the display for Widmann remains only an indefinable mass. Thinking closer or resigning does not improve the view of what the use of such a device makes a frustrating experience, as ZVW reports.

The spread of touchscreen technologies is progress in many areas of life, but it disadvantages blind and visually impaired people. Digital media could actually offer many advantages if they were adapted accordingly. Assistive technologies in particular are of great importance here to compensate for impairments when seeing, hearing, learning and speaking. Unique solutions could help to provide the information that is displayed on screens, linguistically or visually barrier-free, as including media work explains.

opportunities through assistive technologies

About 25% of the world's population has one or more disabilities, with the proportion of over 60 year olds increasing to astonishing 46%. Digital inclusion is therefore of enormous importance, especially since many websites are inaccessible to people with disabilities. Accessibility means that digital products are accessible to all users, regardless of their restrictions. Assistive technologies enable people with disabilities to better use the digital world, as Userway emphasizes.

These technologies range from screen readers and braille translators to software for magnifying the screen. The latter helps people with poor eyesight to perceive digital content better. Tools for adapting text sizes or line spacing also support people with learning difficulties enormously. Speech recognition software converts spoken language into text and thus makes operation easier for people with motor restrictions. All of these aids aim to improve the accessibility of information and to promote digital participation.

the need for changes

Unfortunately, only a fraction of the Internet is currently accessible to people with disabilities, since many websites do not meet the requirements of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). About 3% of the online content meet these standards. In order to remedy this grievance, Userway with AI technology could significantly improve digital accessibility. A plan for digital accessibility is both legally and morally important, not only for companies, but also for society.

The challenges for blind and visually impaired people when using touchscreens and other digital devices show that measures are urgently necessary. A stronger focus on assistive technologies, sensibly implemented adjustments and awareness of the needs of people with disabilities can help to make everyday life easier for many.