At RealSAM our mission has been to empower individuals living with sight loss using innovative technology that makes a difference in everyday life. We aim to always prioritize accessibility, and in light of Blindness Awareness Month we want to share our enthusiasm for the future by shining a light on technology that’s breaking barriers for the visually impaired community.

Smart Technology for the Visually Impaired

There’s no other way to say it. Navigating the world with low vision or total blindness is difficult. There are many things that you don’t have control over. You can’t easily get to where you need to go, you can’t always read what you need to know, and it’s painful when your lack of vision prevents you from doing things for the ones you love.

It’s difficult, but not impossible. In whatever stage of life we’re in, and whatever degree of vision we have, technology is making success more accessible.

Artificial intelligence AI is technology that’s breaking barriers for thousands of blind and visually impaired people all over the world. AI has the power to make things that were previously only accessible by sight now accessible to people with limited or no sight at all.

To put things simply, in today’s digital age, computers are capable of problem solving—and for the visually impaired person, it’s about getting information without seeing, and being able to do things without needing sight.

RealThing AI and RealSAM Devices

AI is continuing to develop; it’s being utilized by different companies and it’s becoming integrated more and more into devices, apps, and other digital products.

RealThing AI is leading in using award winning AI technology to eliminate barriers for the blind and visually impaired. By designing assistive technology that relies on AI, RealSAM devices make it possible for visually impaired users to easily interact and control their mobile phones—something that’s challenging for many visually impaired users when faced with the complexity of today’s smartphones and touch screens.

AI Empowers Users in Everyday Life

AI has many different helpful applications for blind and visually impaired people. If you know about object and text recognition, you have an idea of how AI can be helpful in everyday situations for people with low vision. It’s AI technology that allows the computer to detect objects and text in pictures and provide the user with description that could be read by a screen reader, or an app specifically designed for the purpose. For example, you can take a picture of a cereal box and AI can tell you what it is you’re holding. You can take a picture of your surroundings and get a description of what’s around you.

RealSAM devices have these object and text recognition features included with their video magnifier app. This is helpful for everyday tasks like cooking, identifying labels, reading mail, and so much more.

One thing that’s unique about RealSAM devices is the way AI is used to enable users total control by voice. This makes it easier for people who would have difficulty reading and navigating a touch screen by sight, to do what they want to do on their phones. They can simply say a command like, ‘Add a contact,’ ‘Call my sister,’ and ‘Read my messages.’ Additionally, users can have access to information by asking a question like, ‘What’s the forecast?’ or ‘What’s my location?’

A Brighter Future

AI is improving every day. For example, AI has been capable of identifying items on a menu, or even reading you the whole thing, but today, it’s capable of answering a question like, ‘What’s the cheapest appetizer?’ AI can find this information and then answer follow up questions like, ‘What ingredients does that dish contain?’ AI can go beyond telling you that you’re looking at a car. It can describe it to you and tell you what type of car it is. As it improves, its capability to providing assistance with everyday living is a tremendous step towards independence.

This smart technology is exciting. During Blindness Awareness Month, it’s worth noting that we can look forward to more progress when AI is being used to develop solutions for people with sight loss. After all, technology is meant to make life easier. And when it’s being used to improve accessibility instead of creating barriers, we can look forward to a brighter, more inclusive future.

The post October is Blindness Awareness Month appeared first on RealSAM USA.

Three Common Age-Related Eye Conditions 

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss worldwide.  It is a progressive condition where aging causes damage to the macula, the part of the eye that controls sharp, detailed central vision. This causes the central visual field to become blurry or to develop dark spots. It can also cause vision to become distorted where objects seem to be displaced and/or straight lines appear wavy. 

Glaucoma can occur at any age, but it is another leading cause of vision loss for people over the age of 60. Glaucoma occurs when fluid build-up causes high eye pressure. This ultimately damages the optic nerve, the part of the eye that delivers visual input to the brain. Glaucoma is not easily detected, because its effects are so gradual and decreased vision is not noticeable until its later stages. 

Cataracts occur in older adults because with time the lenses in the eyes may break down and begin to leak protein that clumps together. When untreated it causes blurry, hazy, or cloudy vision.

Taking the first Step to Overcome Vision Loss 

With vision loss comes a slew of limitations. No longer being able to drive, read regular print, clearly see the faces of loved ones, and perform daily task with ease can be very discouraging for someone who has always been able to do these things. 

Encouraging a positive outlook is the first step to overcoming any difficulty in life and it’s no different when facing vision impairment. It’s important to understand that medical conditions do not define individuals and people have the power to choose to live meaningful, purposeful, and even joyful lives regardless of their age or physical disabilities.

Support & Resources 

From there, it’s a matter of finding real solutions to accomplish everyday goals. Staying connected to family and friends and getting involved with a church and/or a support group can greatly ease this process and increase confidence in maintaining independence. 

Fortunately, we live in a time where there are countless options available as far as having tools for the elderly community. Whether it’s services like ride sharing and personal shopping assistance, or assistive devices like magnifiers and money identifiers, or high-tech assistive technology like screen readers and a fully voice operated smart phone like the RealSAM Pocket—there are real solutions to adapting to life with vision loss. 

By Guenivir Kendrick with help from ChatGPT

References:

Cataract. AOA.org. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2023, from https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/cataract?sso=y 

Glaucoma. AOA.org. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2023, from https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/glaucoma?sso=y 

Macular degeneration. AOA.org. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2023, from https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/macular-degeneration?sso=y

The post Overcoming the 3 Most Common Age-Related Conditions Causing Visual Impairment  appeared first on RealSAM USA.

1. Reducing Glare

Different eye conditions can cause light sensitivity. Light is crucial, but excessive amounts or glare can cause physical discomfort such as tearing up or getting headaches. Glare can also cause vision to become hazy or blurry, making details even less visible for those who are visually impaired. To reduce glare, use shades or filters on light sources, position lights at different angles, and use matte finishes on surfaces to reduce reflective glare.

2. Increasing Contrast

As higher contrast with dark mode helps many visually impaired people read and navigate their screens, enhancing contrast in the surroundings can improve their ability to distinguish between different objects and surfaces. This can be achieved by using lighting that highlights the edges of objects and surfaces, creating shadows that provide depth perception, and using contrasting colors to create a clear distinction between different surfaces. For example, using a light-colored floor with dark-colored furniture can make it easier for someone with low vision to navigate a room. 

3. Providing Task Lighting

Task lighting can be particularly useful for individuals with low vision, as it provides additional light for specific tasks such as reading, cooking, or sewing. Task lighting can be provided through lamps, under-cabinet lighting, and other forms of localized lighting. By providing additional lighting for specific tasks, people with low vision can work more efficiently and with greater accuracy.

4. Using Natural Light

Sunlight can make any space bright, airy, and beautiful, while being an excellent source of illumination for individuals with low vision. It is important to manage natural light. Too much direct sunlight pouring into a room may be too bright and may cause glare, while not enough of it could darken the room and make it more difficult to see. This can be done by using window treatments, coverings, filters, that allow light in while diffusing direct sunlight and by positioning furniture to take advantage of indirect natural light.

5. Providing Consistent Lighting

Consistent lighting can be important for individuals with low vision, as sudden changes in lighting can be disorienting and make it difficult to see. By providing consistent lighting throughout a space, people with low vision can navigate their surroundings with greater ease.

Taking all these considerations into account and adjusting lighting accordingly can help individuals with low vision make the most of what they can see with comfort, ease, and confidence.

 By Guenivir Kendrick with help from ChatGPT

REFERENCE:

Perez, S. S. (2023, February 16). Useful Independence Tips for Low Vision Awareness Month. The American Foundation for the Blind. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.afb.org/blog/entry/independence-tips

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