Mobile Phone for the Blind

Anonymous Coward writes "Owasys - a Spanish company - is launching a mobile phone for the blind next week. No visual display as a speech synthesiser reads everything that appears on the screen out loud. Also speaks the name and number of incoming callers."

Comments

I'm surprised this wasn't out long ago

[ear2ground]

Why is this just making news?

Sounds like a good idea

I have a feeling there may be more of a need than for those who drive around with a cell phone in one hand and a latte in the other.

ALWAYS design for the lowest common denominator!

[ebusinessmedia1]

All consumer electronics devices should be manufactured - at base - with the lowest-common-denominator user in mind.

If a device is made to enable someone with physical challenges, it should be a cinch to use for anyone who isn't challenged.

From there, a device could be addended with options, for those that want them. In fact, devices built this way would have a much higher "cool" factor than most of the poorly-desogned products we see today. Witness all the excitment every time an "easy-to-use" product comes to market...that alone makes my point.

If one considers that virtually all consumers will be physically challenged at some point in their lives (broken bones, aging, etc.), why shouldn't manufacturers be building devices with a "fail-safe" user mode that permits limted, but functional use?

Frankly, this design strategy alone would revolutionize consumer product manufacture in many sectors (auto, electronics, etc), and solve many of the "user-unfriendly" problems that plague consumers today.

Unfortunately, what we see today is engineering-driven design that frustrates all but the most determined users, and even those face barriers to seamless use that simply should not exist.

Re:ALWAYS design for the lowest common denominator

[jez9999]

What? I don't think it's THAT unreasonable for manufacturers to assume a certain level of physical ability when they design a product. Think of all the disabilities a person could have; deafness, blindness, broken bones, no legs, no arms, cerebal palsy, how the hell can you design a car that's able to be driven by someone with any disability?? It would need to be virtually mind-controlled, unless you're suggesting that cars should be able to be driven by those in a vegetative state.