When people ask how blind people read, the answer they usually expect is: audiobooks. It’s the format most sighted people have heard of, and it’s become a kind of shorthand for accessible reading as a whole. But it’s only one part of a much wider picture. Blind and visually impaired people in the US access books, news, and stories in a remarkable variety of ways — shaped by personal preference, how much vision they have, whether they’ve been blind since birth or lost their sight later in life, and simply what works best for them day to day. There is no single answer to how blind people read, and that’s precisely the point. Here are seven real ways people do it.

1. Braille

Reading through touch Braille is often the first thing people picture when they ask how blind people read, and it remains one of the most important forms of literacy for people with little or no vision. Developed by Louis Braille in 19th-century France, the system uses patterns of raised dots to represent letters, numbers, and punctuation, read by running the fingertips across the page. For people who learn it well, braille can be fast, private, and completely independent of any technology — you can read a braille book on a plane, follow along with a script on stage, or label your kitchen without needing a phone or a screen. In the United States, the standard is Unified English Braille (UEB), which has been in use since 2016 and aligns with seven other English-speaking countries. The American Foundation for the Blind is a strong resource for understanding braille and finding learning support. It’s worth knowing that most blind people in the US are not braille readers. Braille literacy is highest among people who have been blind since birth or childhood. Those who lose their sight later in life — which is the majority — often find it harder to learn as adults, though many do. NLS (the National Library Service) offers free braille materials and can connect you with local learning resources.

2. NLS Talking Books

The largest accessible library in the US, The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), a programme of the Library of Congress, provides one of the world’s largest collections of accessible audio and braille books — entirely free to any US resident with a qualifying print disability. The service includes hundreds of thousands of titles across fiction, non-fiction, biography, history, and more. Books are available to download through the Bard Mobile app, streamed online, or received as cartridges by post. Special players that work with NLS cartridges are also provided free of charge to eligible users. Qualifying for NLS is straightforward — it’s open to anyone who has a visual impairment, a physical disability that prevents holding a book, or a reading disability like dyslexia. Your doctor or eye care provider can certify eligibility, and there’s no cost at any stage. If you or someone you care for is newly losing vision and hasn’t yet registered with NLS, this is one of the most valuable services to know about. You can apply at loc.gov/nls.

3. DAISY

Navigating audio like a real book, DAISY stands for Digital Accessible Information System, and it addresses a real frustration with standard audiobooks: how do you go back to a specific chapter, or look something up, without scrubbing through hours of audio? DAISY format allows readers to navigate an audiobook by chapter, section, or page number — the same kind of control a sighted reader has when flipping through a physical book. This makes a practical difference for longer non-fiction, textbooks, or any material you need to return to. NLS distributes many of its titles in DAISY format, and the free players provided to NLS users are designed to make DAISY navigation simple. For students or professionals who rely on accessible text, DAISY is worth specifically looking for when choosing titles and services.

4. Large print books

Many people with visual impairment have some useful remaining vision — and for them, large print books are a simple, low-tech way to keep reading without needing to learn new technology or adapt to an entirely different format. Large print is typically 16–18pt or larger, with generous line spacing and high-contrast text. For people managing conditions like macular degeneration or glaucoma, where some useful central or peripheral vision remains, this can be enough to read independently and comfortably. Large print books are available through NLS, most public libraries (which often keep collections even if they’re not prominently displayed — it’s worth asking), and through retailers like Amazon. Many bestsellers are published in large print editions alongside their standard versions, often at no significant price difference.

5. Tactile and multi-sensory books

For people who want to engage with the visual as well as the textual side of a book, tactile books offer something genuinely different: stories and information you can feel as well as hear. In the US, Living Paintings — a UK-originated charity — creates tactile books that combine raised images, colour print, and audio guides. The audio component helps the reader explore what they’re touching, so the experience isn’t just about words but about the illustrations and visual world the book inhabits. Their library is free to join. For children specifically, the ClearVision Project offers braille and print books designed to be shared between blind and sighted readers — so a blind child and a sighted sibling can read the same book together. That possibility of shared reading matters beyond accessibility.

6. Screen readers and digital text

A huge amount of reading now happens through screen readers — software that converts digital text into synthesised speech or braille output. On Apple devices, VoiceOver is built in. On Android, TalkBack does the same job. For computer users, JAWS and NVDA are widely used. These tools can read anything that exists as accessible digital text: ebooks, websites, documents, emails, and news. Apps like Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play Books all support text-to-speech for ebooks. The Libby app — which connects to your local public library — gives access to thousands of free audiobooks and ebooks with good screen reader support. The Bookshare library, supported by the US Department of Education, offers nearly a million accessible titles free to people with qualifying print disabilities. Screen readers work best when the digital content they’re reading has been designed with accessibility in mind. A well-structured ebook reads smoothly; a poorly formatted one — or text embedded in an image — can be difficult or impossible to navigate. This is one reason why accessible design matters far beyond the technology used to access it.

7. Voice-first technology and community reading

The most recent shift in accessible reading isn’t just about the format of the book — it’s about how reading fits into a daily routine, and whether it connects people to something larger. Voice-first devices — operated entirely by voice without needing to navigate a visual interface — let readers access audiobooks, newspapers, and content by simply asking for them. There’s no app to locate, no screen to tap through, no settings to find. You ask for what you want, and it plays. Smart speakers like Amazon Echo can read Kindle books aloud, and apps like Alexa and Google Assistant increasingly support content discovery by voice. Dedicated voice-first devices take this further, removing the visual interface entirely for users who find even simplified touchscreens difficult. Beyond access to the text itself, the social dimension of reading matters too — and it’s something that accessible formats have historically found harder to support. Book clubs, recommendations, shared discussions — these are things sighted readers have always been able to participate in easily, but that can require more effort to access with a visual impairment. Digital reading communities designed for blind and visually impaired readers are beginning to address that gap.

How do blind people read? In whatever way works best for them

The most important thing accessible reading has learned over nearly a century of development is that there is no single right format. Braille is not better than audiobooks. Talking books are not better than large print. Screen readers are not better than tactile books. What matters is that each person can read in the way that suits their vision, their history with reading, and their everyday life. In the US, the infrastructure to support that choice is genuinely strong. NLS, Bookshare, Libby, AFB, and local library services all play a role. The challenge is often not whether a service exists, but whether people know it’s there — especially people who are newly navigating vision loss and don’t yet know what to look for. If you’re at that stage — researching for yourself or for someone you care about — the American Foundation for the Blind and NLS are both strong starting points.

RealSAM Pocket is a voice-operated smartphone designed for blind and visually impaired people — no screen navigation, no app icons, no visual interface. Just tap and talk. Learn more about RealSAM Pocket

The post How do Blind People Read? 7 Real Ways People Access Books appeared first on RealSAM USA.

A practical guide for adult children researching accessible phones for a parent with vision loss

If you’re searching for a phone for blind seniors, you’ve probably already spent time in the wrong corners of the internet — pages full of spec sheets, jargon, and options that assume you know more than you do. This guide is designed to cut through that. It’s written for adult children and family members who are trying to find something that will genuinely help a parent stay independent, and who want a straight answer rather than a sales pitch.

Why standard smartphones often aren’t the right phone for blind seniors

Most of us assume the solution is somewhere in our parents’ existing phone. Turn on the accessibility settings. Make the text bigger. Enable VoiceOver or TalkBack. And for some people — particularly those who were already comfortable with smartphones before their vision changed — this works reasonably well. But for many seniors with significant vision loss, especially those losing sight in their 60s or 70s, the standard accessibility route asks a lot. VoiceOver is a powerful tool, but it’s a learned skill. It changes the way every gesture works. It requires patience and time that not everyone has, particularly if vision loss is progressing alongside other health changes.

The family burden shifts too. You find yourself driving over to fix settings, walking a parent through steps on the phone, troubleshooting notifications that have somehow accumulated. None of this is anyone’s fault — it’s just what happens when a tool designed for sighted users is asked to serve someone who can no longer use it the way it was designed.

What makes a voice-operated phone different for blind seniors?

The best phone for blind seniors isn’t necessarily a modified smartphone — it may be a device that removes the visual layer entirely. Rather than adapting a visual interface for non-visual use, voice-operated phones designed specifically for people with vision loss are built from the ground up around voice. There’s no home screen to navigate, no apps to find, no notifications stacking up.

The phone answers one question at a time: what do you want to do?

You tap the screen. You say what you want. The phone does it.

For many families, the shift is noticeable fairly quickly, not because the technology is magic, but because it removes the specific friction points that were causing problems. Contacts become reachable by name. Messages can be sent and received by voice. A parent who had stopped attempting to use their phone independently starts using it again, because it works the way they can actually interact with it.

Early and ongoing support

Before choosing any device, it’s worth asking what training is available and how easy it is to get help when something goes wrong. A phone that comes with ongoing customer support is a very different proposition from one that ships in a box and leaves you to figure it out. The American Foundation for the Blind offers guidance on what to look for in assistive technology products, including questions to ask before you buy.

The independence piece

There’s something worth naming directly, because it comes up in almost every conversation with families: the goal isn’t to make your parents’ phone easier for you to manage. The goal is to give them back something they’ve started losing — the ability to communicate, get information, and navigate their day without asking for help every time. Independence for someone with vision loss doesn’t look like it used to. But it’s still real. It’s your mom calling you because she wants to, not because she’s stuck. It’s her listening to a book in the evening, or checking the weather, or calling her sister without anyone having to set it up for her first. That’s the version of independence a well-designed phone for blind seniors is actually trying to support. Not impressive features. Just ordinary life, reliably managed.

A note on cost and funding

One thing that surprises many families: for a significant number of users in the US, the cost of an accessible phone is covered — fully or substantially — through funding programs. Veterans Affairs offices, state vocational rehabilitation programs, and other assistance schemes exist specifically to provide assistive technology to people who need it. If your parent is a veteran, or if you’re unsure what funding might be available in your state, it’s worth asking before assuming you’ll be paying full price. Our financial assistance resources page lists programs by state. Our team can also help point you in the right direction, even if a particular program isn’t one we manage directly.

How to find the right phone for blind seniors

There’s no single right answer for every situation. A few questions are worth sitting with before you decide: • How much usable vision does your parent still have?

• How comfortable are they with technology right now—not historically, but today?
• What are the two or three things they most need to do independently?
• What training and ongoing support will come with the device?
• Is there funding available through VA, vocational rehab, or a state program?

If you’re weighing these questions and would like to talk through whether RealSAM Pocket might be a good fit, or whether it isn’t, our team is glad to help. Schedule a free demo or send us an enquiry → You can also explore our financial assistance and resources page to find out what funding may be available in your state.

RealSAM Pocket is a voice-operated smartphone for blind and visually impaired users. It replaces the standard Android interface entirely with a voice-first system — no icons, no visual navigation. Tap and talk. It ships with a 30-day money-back guarantee and unlimited customer support. Learn more about RealSAM Pocket →

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When searching for assistive technology options to address vision loss, it is important to understand which everyday tasks may become more difficult to perform independently.

Reading your mail.

Checking medication labels.

Looking at expiration dates on groceries.

Understanding a restaurant menu.

When you lose sight, these small moments can suddenly require assistance from someone else. That can be frustrating — and it can also affect something deeply important: privacy and independence. For people who are blind or experience a visual impairment, the right assistive technology can make the difference between autonomy and reliance.

RealSAM can Read Any Text and Describe Any Image

The RealSAM Magnifier and Sight Assistant tool is designed to help users reclaim independence in these everyday moments by translating both printed and handwritten text and visual information.

RealSAM’s simple interface means that users can simply take a photo of something they want to read or identify. The Sight Assistant will then recognise and describe the content of the image in detail and can answer follow-up questions about it.

For example:

What is the expiration date on this food?

What does this letter say?

Is this the correct medication?

How long should this food cook?

Does this menu item contain certain ingredients?

Instead of needing to ask someone else for help, which can incur an invasion of privacy—especially in the case of reading your mail or identifying your medication—users can easily find out for themselves, using RealSAM as their independence companion.

Beyond the Magnifier: Tools That Recognise Text, Objects, and More

Modern devices for the blind and visually impaired can do much more than magnify text. The RealSAM Sight Assistant tool can help users interact with and navigate their surroundings by easily recognising:

Text and Written Information

• Printed text
• Handwritten notes
• Letters and documents

Everyday Objects

• Money and currency
• Food packaging
• Scenery
• Cooking Appliances
• Street signs 
• Food Menus 
• Bin lids

Additional Capabilities

• Text translation from any language 
• Asking follow-up questions about images
• Describing visual content 

These tools allow users to access information that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to read.

Assistive technology does not replace sight — but it can remove many of the barriers that vision loss creates. Tools designed for blind and visually impaired users can help manage everyday activities more confidently. These moments may seem simple, but they play a huge role in maintaining autonomy, privacy, and independence.

Best Assistive Technology for Vision Loss

Losing sight does not need to mean losing control over daily life.

With the right assistive technology for vision loss, people who are blind or experience visual impairment can continue to navigate everyday tasks with confidence. The RealSAM Sight Assistant tool is designed with exactly that goal in mind: helping users read, recognise, and understand the information around them without needing to ask for assistance

Because everyone deserves access to technology that supports independence, dignity, and privacy.

The post Assistive Technology for Vision Loss: Technology That Supports Independence appeared first on RealSAM USA.

Every March, the United States celebrates Women’s History Month, a time to recognise the achievements of women whose work has shaped society, culture, and civil rights. Among those stories are the lives of blind and visually impaired women whose achievements changed the course of history—often in ways that are still not widely known.

From abolitionists and educators to athletes and disability rights advocates, these women challenged expectations and expanded what independence and leadership could look like. Here are five remarkable blind women in history whose contributions continue to inspire.

Ever Lee Hairston: Civil Rights Advocate and Community Leader

Ever Lee Hairston was a pioneering activist who worked to expand opportunities for blind Americans.  

As a blind African American woman working during the civil rights era, she advocated for greater inclusion in education, employment, and community life.

Hairston worked with organisations such as the National Federation of the Blind, helping strengthen the movement for disability rights while also addressing racial inequality within access to education and services.

Her work contributed to broader efforts to ensure that blind Americans could live, work, and participate fully in society.

Harriet Tubman: Abolitionist and Freedom Leader

Harriet Tubman is widely known as one of the most courageous leaders of the Underground Railroad, guiding enslaved people to freedom in the decades before the American Civil War. 

Less widely known is that Tubman lived with significant vision impairment and neurological symptoms after suffering a traumatic head injury as a teenager while enslaved.

Despite lifelong headaches, seizures, and vision difficulties, Tubman led dozens of dangerous rescue missions and later served as a scout, nurse, and spy for the Union Army.

Her leadership helped free hundreds of enslaved people and made her one of the most respected figures in American history.

Haben Girma: Disability Rights Lawyer and Global Advocate

Haben Girma made history as the first deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School. 

Today she is an internationally recognised disability rights lawyer and advocate for accessible technology, education, and public spaces.

Girma has worked with governments, universities, and technology companies to encourage accessibility in digital design and inclusive policy.

In recognition of her work, she was named a White House Champion of Change under the administration of Barack Obama.

Her advocacy continues to influence conversations about accessibility and equal opportunity worldwide.

Marla Runyan: Olympian and Record-Breaking Runner

Marla Runyan is one of the most accomplished visually impaired athletes in American history. 

Diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a degenerative eye condition, Runyan gradually lost most of her central vision.

She went on to win multiple gold medals in the Paralympic Games before becoming the first legally blind athlete to compete in the Olympic Games.

Her achievements challenged assumptions about disability in sport and helped expand opportunities for athletes with visual impairments.

Helen Keller: Author, Activist, and Global Symbol of Disability Rights

Perhaps the most widely recognised blind woman in history, Helen Keller became deafblind at 19 months old after an illness. 

With the help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, Keller learned to communicate through tactile sign language and went on to become a prolific writer and public speaker.

Over the course of her life, she published books, lectured internationally, and advocated for disability rights, women’s suffrage, and workers’ rights.

Her life helped change public understanding of disability and education, demonstrating that blind and deafblind people could participate fully in intellectual and political life.

Recognising the Legacy of Blind Women Leaders: Women’s History Month 2026

The stories of these famous blind women span centuries and fields — abolition, law, sport, education, and civil rights.

What connects them is not only their resilience, but their determination to expand what society believed blind women could achieve.

During Women’s History Month, their lives remind us that progress often comes from individuals who challenge expectations and open doors for those who follow.

Their achievements continue to shape conversations about equality, access, and opportunity today.

Take a look at our previous blog posts here. 

The post Women’s History Month: 5 Blind Women Who Changed American History appeared first on RealSAM USA.

Accessible Gardening: Why Gardening Works So Well Without Sight

Gardening is naturally suited to non-visual senses. So much of it already depends on texture, smell, and spatial awareness:

• the roughness of bark
• the scent of herbs like mint or rosemary
• the difference between damp soil and dry soil
• the sound of bees in flowering plants

Because of this, many blind and visually impaired gardeners develop highly tactile ways of working with plants.

Organizations such as the American Foundation for the Blind highlight gardening as an activity that can support wellbeing, independence, and connection with nature.

Gardening for Blind People: Simple Spring Techniques

A few small adjustments can make gardening easier and more accessible.

Use tactile plant markers

Raised labels, braille tags, or textured markers can help identify plants.

Plant in straight lines or containers

Consistent spacing makes it easier to navigate beds and remember plant locations.

Choose strongly scented plants

Herbs such as basil, thyme, mint and lavender make it easy to identify plants through smell.

Use raised beds

Raised beds help with orientation and make it easier to reach plants safely.

These techniques help create a garden that is structured, memorable and easy to navigate by touch.

Gardening Without Sight: Accessible Gardening Tools

Some tools can make accessible gardening even easier. Examples include:

• braille or large-print seed packets
• talking plant identification apps
• tactile garden markers
• ergonomic hand tools with clear grips

Across the United States, many parks and public gardens are also exploring sensory garden design, where plants are chosen for their texture, fragrance, and sound.

The National Federation of the Blind has also highlighted how accessible outdoor activities can play an important role in recreation and independence.

A Different Way to Experience Spring

Spring gardening is often associated with color and visual beauty.

But nature offers far more than what we see.

The smell of tomato leaves.

The texture of warm soil.

The sound of bees moving between flowers.

For many blind and low vision gardeners, these sensory details become the center of the experience.

Gardening without sight isn’t simply adapting a visual activity.
It’s discovering another rich way of experiencing the season.

Check out our previous blog posts here.

The post Gardening Without Sight: Spring Gardening Tips for Blind and Visually Impaired People appeared first on RealSAM USA.

In a world that can sometimes seem chaotic, World Kindness Day on November 13th,  reminds us of the power of compassion. At some point, we’ve all learned from one of Aesop’s fables that, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” Small acts of kindness positively impact individuals and communities. The ripple effect can be significant.

Everyone has an opportunity to be kind. You can make a difference in your own way in your own niches of family, friends, and colleagues. At RealThing, inclusivity is something we value, especially for those experiencing disabilities and sight loss. This World Kindness Day, why not challenge yourself to commit a small act of kindness and connect with someone who has special needs. It can be as easy as starting with a simple, “Hello.”

To Someone Who’s Visually Impaired

When you’re sighted, it’s easy to forget that blind and partially sighted people miss out on a lot of social ques and gestures. No, we don’t know you’re waving, “Hello” from across the street, or across the room, or even across the table. Most people with low vision won’t see you smiling or nodding your head in a friendly greeting. If you say, ‘Hi,’ and we haven’t spent a lot of time with you, we’ll say, ‘Hello,’ back. But we frequently have no idea who we’ve just spoken to; we haven’t had a chance to memorize the sound of the voice connected to the person. It can be very isolating to be around a lot of people and not be able to see faces and gestures.

I guarantee, you’ll make a difference in someone’s day with a greeting like, “Hello. How are you? it’s Jessica, from when you were walking with your guide dog at the park yesterday.” Or “Nice to see you again. It’s Bob from the bus stop. Have a good day at work.” Or “Hey. It’s Helen again, I rang up your groceries last week. How are you today?”

To Someone Who’s Deaf or Hard of Hearing

It’s not just visually impaired people who miss out on friendly gestures. It can be very isolating for deaf and hard of hearing people. At the very least it might be like being in a foreign country and not knowing the language. It would be a challenge to function without being able to interact with others.

If there’s someone in your circle or community who’s hard of hearing, it would be wonderful if you could learn to say a few things in sign language. Basic things that aren’t difficult like, “How are you?” And “Have a good day.” And “Thank you,” or “You’re welcome.”

There are also apps that could transcribe as you speak and will let them type a response to you. You can text back and forth or just use paper and pencil to communicate. Just take a minute from time to time to interact with them.

If you’re someone who’s visually impaired trying to communicate with someone hard of hearing, you’ll have to be creative. But it is possible, I am legally blind, and I communicate with my brother who is totally deaf.

To Someone with Other Disabilities

Other individuals with disabilities, people who use mobility aids like wheelchairs, people who have difficulty speaking, moving, or have cognitive challenges, are often overlooked. Many times, it’s easy for society to have a dismissive or unpleasant attitude towards disability. People don’t realize that they’re staring impolitely when someone can’t speak properly or has unusual uncontrolled movements. Often misunderstood, it can be extremely isolating for them as well.

It’s not hard to courteously move aside to let the wheelchair through, but it’s quite another matter to connect with someone so different from oneself. You can overcome that discomfort with kindness. Start with something simple, just a friendly wave or a cheerful smile.

The Ripple Effect

Saying, “Hello” might seem incredibly inconsequential at the moment, but kindness has the potential to create a ripple that can move mountains. Your kind greeting might be observed by another person, and they in turn also do something kind. You might unknowingly be an example to a young person who might be inspired to volunteer for a helpful organization. You might give someone the confidence to do something they didn’t think they could. Or you could just be making somebody’s day and that alone is worth the trouble.

Happy World Kindness Day from the RealSAM Team!

–End of Article–

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At RealThing Ai it’s our mission to deliver solutions that help blind and visually impaired users go through their day independently. Pocket’s Navigation Tool, Outdoor Locations is one assistive feature, enabling someone who’s blind or has low vision to find their way any time they’re traveling outdoors.

Here’s everything you need to know about Outdoor Locations.

Outdoor Locations vs. Map Apps

Outdoor Location is a navigation tool that relies on Pocket’s built-in GPS receiver. It allows RealSAM to track your location and tell you where you are as you travel outside.

Outdoor Locations will not give you step-by-step directions to get from point A to point B. It’s not like other map applications. It’s a tool that you customize to help you find your way as you walk a familiar route. The first time you use Outdoor Locations in a new route, you label specific points in your travel as locations that will be saved on a list. The next time you travel the same route, Outdoor Locations will let you know that you are approaching or passing those points. It will also let you know your distance and direction from your nearest saved locations.

Starting and Stopping Outdoor Locations

As with everything RealSAM, Outdoor Locations is simple and easy to use. Simply press the “tap to talk” button on your Pocket and say, “Start Outdoor Locations.” RealSAM will respond with, “Starting Outdoor Locations.”

It will also remind you that Outdoor Locations uses a lot more battery power than other applications, so be aware about your cellphone having enough charge. One suggestion for anyone who wants to use Outdoor Locations for longer periods would be to carry a portable backup charging device. You can hook up your phone on the go and not worry about draining the battery as you use Outdoor Locations to navigate.

When you’re done using Outdoor Locations, simply, “tap to talk” and say, “Stop Outdoor Locations.” Pocket will say, “Stopping Outdoor Locations.” Your cellphone will then return to normal battery usage. You can start and stop Outdoor Locations at any time as you travel, it will automatically detect where you are and your nearest labeled locations.

Labeling Locations

If you start Outdoor Locations, but you have not yet labeled any points, Pocket will not say anything as you move since it has no list to refer to. Additionally, you must have Outdoor Locations running before you can begin labeling locations. Also, note that while you can label locations indoors, Outdoor Locations works best, more accurately outside.

To label a location, start Outdoor Locations. Stand at the spot you want to label, press the “tap to talk” button and say, “Label location as…” or “Add location as…” For example, if you want to add your house, stand by your front door, press the “tap to talk” and say, “Add location as Home.” Or “Label location as Home.” Pocket may say, “Home 0 feet.” This means you’re standing right where your label is. Then as you walk away, every minute or so, with Outdoor Locations turned on, Pocket will say something like, “Home 10 feet back,” meaning that your front door is now 10 feet behind you. As you get closer to your front door, Pocket may say something like, “Home 10 feet front.”

Customizing Your Locations

You can label as many locations as you want with different names. Every one will automatically be saved on your locations list and detected the next time that you’re near it.

Label stores and streets by their actual names like, “Starbucks”, “Aldi”, and “Corner of University Way”. Get creative with your location names; label the beginning of your driveway, “Home At Last”, the entrance of your favorite park, “Best Place Ever”, the corner of a noisy street, “Noisy Lane”, etc. Set unique landmarks like, “1^st Park Bench”, and “3^rd Buildings from Lisa’s Apartment”.

When it’s difficult or not possible to see landmarks and read signs, it’s reassuring to know that you’re going the right way. You’ll hear Pocket tell you that you’re approaching the different landmarks you’ve set along the way.

Managing Your Location List

It’s easy to change the name of your location labels. Simply press the “tap to talk” button and say, “List locations.” Select the location you want to change and say, “Change to…” For example, if you want to change your label from “Home” to “My Castle”, select “Home” from the list and say, “Change to My Castle.” Pocket will ask you to confirm the change by saying, “Please say, ‘Yes.’ If you want to change name to My Castle, or, ‘No.’ to cancel.”

Likewise, remove locations from your list by selecting the location and saying, “Delete.” Pocket will ask you to confirm by saying, “Say, ‘Yes’ to delete or ‘No’ to cancel.”

Setting Focus Points

One more thing you can do from your Locations List is to set a “focus point”. This is telling Pocket that your goal is to reach that particular location. For example, select “Home” from the list and say, “Focus.” From then on, Pocket will notify you with something like, “Focus point ‘Home’ 20 feet front right.” This lets you know you’re going in the right direction; your front door is 20 feet forward to your right. If your aim is “Home” but you hear Pocket say something like, “Focus point ‘Home’ 50 feet back,” then you know you’re going the opposite way and you need to turn around.

More Navigation Tools and Assistive Features on Pocket

Learn more about Outdoor Locations by reading “Meet Margaret”. She shares her experience with Pocket and describes how she uses Outdoor Locations on her walks.

RealSAM Pocket has additional navigational features without having to turn on Outdoor Locations. You can read more about this feature from “Pocket’s Navigation Tool – Orientation Features” from the RealSAM News Page.

Check out other RealSAM assistive tools on Pocket:

Accessible Global Time, Date, and Weather on your RealSAM Pocket

The Video Magnifier on RealSAM

7 Things to Consider When Shopping for a Cell Phone for Seniors

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The RealSAM Pocket is not just accessible, it’s also designed with features that support everyday independence for those who are blind or visually impaired. Pocket has a Navigation Tool with Orientation Features that will help you find your way. Here are two things you can find out using Pocket’s Orientation Features.

Ask Pocket Where You – Get Accurate Location

The RealSAM location tool can accurately tell you where you are and what’s around you.

Just press the “tap to talk” button and ask, “Where am I?” Pocket will tell you the nearest address and cross street detected by the GPS. Personally, every time I’ve done this with my Pocket, I’m able to get an accurate location. When I’m at home, I’ve had Pocket tell me that, ‘You’re close to…’ my exact address, and an approximate distance from the nearest intersecting street.

I’ve found that if I’ve just started the phone, or if it has been inactive for a while, it takes one or two tries to get the GPS on point. If at any time you ask Pocket, ‘Where am I?’ and you get a response that doesn’t sound familiar or you know is not correct, just give it another go, or give it a minute and then try again. This hasn’t happened to me often, but when it does after the second time, the GPS would readjust and function normally, providing accurate location.

Ask Pocket What’s Around You – Get Nearby Points of Interests

In addition to pinpointing your location, you can also find out what’s around you with Pocket. “Tap to talk” and use these phrases:

“What’s near me?”

“What’s nearby?”

“What’s around here?”

“Local points of interests.”

RealSAM will respond with “Where you are, nearby points of interest include…” and list businesses, restaurants, stores, places of worship, and more. For example, from one location in town, Pocket might tell me, “Where you are, nearby points of interests include Cullet Guttering Services, Audio Recording, Jean’s Auto Painting, Cindy’s Cleaning Solutions, Spring Theatre, Grace Bible College…”

You can continue to check for what’s around you as you walk or anytime you are somewhere new.

How Can this Orientation Feature Be Helpful to You?

Using the RealSAM orientation feature to find out where you are and what’s nearby will help you navigate any time you are out. It can be especially useful in certain situations.

1. Navigating a new or an unfamiliar place

It’s helpful to have a friend or a guide when going somewhere for the first time. It gives you an opportunity to get the lay of the land when someone can describe what’s around. You can get specific directions that will help you become more familiar with that location.

But it’s not always possible to go to a new place with a sighted guide. The RealSAM orientation feature can be helpful, for instance, to confirm that you’ve arrived at the correct location after traveling via public transportation or ride-share. As long as you know the street or address of your destination, you can gain more confidence by confirming your location when you ask RealSAM, “Where am I?”

If your destination is a place of business or a shop, and you’re not directly in front of it when you get off your ride, you can see if Pocket can detect it when you ask, “What’s nearby?” For example, if you’re looking for your favorite restaurant, Pocket will be able to tell you that it’s in your vicinity. This feature will not give you step-by-step directions, but it will help you to get a sense of your surroundings and allow you to make a better decision about which direction to set out for.

2. Meeting up with a friend

You can use this orientation feature when you’re meeting someone. Ask Pocket, “Where am I?” Then tell your Pocket to call your friend and relay the nearest cross street and the nearest address.

3. Giving directions

If you need to let someone know where to pick you up, you can tell them what you’re close to and your exact location according to Pocket.

4. Discover a new point of interest

Have you ever gone somewhere and had no idea that your favorite store was right around the corner? The next time you go to one of your regular locations, ask Pocket, “What’s nearby?” You’ll discover interesting new places to try. You might not be able to go there right then and there, but you can take note of it. Then later, have a family member, friend, or mobility instructor map out a route for another time.

5. Use the RealSAM orientation feature with Be My Eyes

Find out what’s around you using the RealSAM orientation feature, then get sighted assistance from a Be My Eyes volunteer. Using your phone’s camera, they can let you know if that point of interest is accessible from where you are. They can describe your surroundings in detail, read signs you can’t see and give you some directions.

More Location Tools and Assistive Features

RealSAM Pocket includes additional navigation tools that can help you navigate. Find out more from “Pocket’s Navigation Tool – Outdoor Locations” from RealSAM News Page.

RealSAM devices also include additional assistive features. Check out these articles on the RealSAM News Page.

Accessible Global Time, Date, and Weather on your RealSAM Pocket

The Video Magnifier on RealSAM

7 Things to Consider When Shopping for a Cell Phone for Seniors 

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Getting a new and accessible cell phone from RealSAM is exciting! If you’ve recently ordered Pocket, you’re looking forward to using your new device right away. But as with anything new, you’ll need to set it up and get the hang of using it with ease. Learning how to use new technology may seem intimidating—with RealSAM, there’s no need to worry. You’ll have access to an 1-on-1 Customer Support from an exceptional team that will take the time to guide you through every step of the process.

We Offer Introductory Call Sessions

It’s our mission to empower blind and visually impaired people with technology that makes a difference. At the core of this is our friendly customer support team that can help you with setting up and bring you to where you’re confident and having the best experience with your new RealSAM device.

We offer 3 Introductory 1-on-1 Calls to help new customers. Whether you’re setting up your new phone on your own, or you’re helping someone, we are available to give you step by step guidance or answer any questions during our Introductory Sessions.

From wifi set up, to adjusting basic setting preferences, and of course adding your very first contact—you can call in as soon as you get your new phone, or you can book your first 1-on-1 call at your convenience.

Voice control makes Pocket friendly and easy to use. Once you start exploring Pocket, it won’t take long before you’re fully confident calling, texting, and adding new contacts by voice.

New customers are welcome to book a 2^nd and 3^rd 1-on-1 call. You can get guidance with things like RealSAM’s assistive tools and media features. We’ll walk you through navigating books, newspapers, and podcasts. If you’ve never experienced using OCR, object text recognition, we’ll help you become familiar with the RealSAM video magnifier on your phone. We can also assist with making sure you’re connected to sighted assistance with Be My Eyes and your  emergency contact system in place.

Of course, during these sessions, we’re here to answer any other questions you may have.

1-on-1 Calls Are Tailored for Each User

Every person has their own preferences and their own pace with new technology. At RealSAM we love the diversity we experience with all our customers. Accessibility for everyone is a priority. 1-on-1 Introductory Sessions are friendly and flexible. Our customer support team is dedicated to providing information and guidance that would be most helpful to you. In this way, each session is tailored and sensitive to the specific needs of every user.

Unlimited Support 

Beyond our 1-on-1 Introductory Calls, our Customer Support Team is available to help with any questions or to troubleshoot any issues. Visit our Contact Page to fill out a RealSAM Enquiry Form or to get information about our hours and ways to reach us. If you call us out of our office hours, just leave us a message and we’ll get back to you promptly.

We look forward to connecting with you.

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The post 1-on-1 Customer Support for New RealSAM Pocket Users appeared first on RealSAM USA.

October 9 – 16 is National Braille Week. At RealSAM we want to be part of empowerment for the sight loss community. National Braille Week is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the development of Braille and the tremendous positive impact it continues to have on the sight loss community.

Braille was Revolutionary

Braille is not a language, it’s a form of writing. It uses patterns of raised dots to represent characters that can be read by people who are blind or visually impaired.

Did you know that the invention of Braille was inspired by the military? In 1819 Charlse Barbier, a former officer from the French army came up with ‘night writing’ so that soldiers could communicate in the dark without speaking.

It was a time of exciting change for France, a country that had just gone through a revolution. Barbier was passionate about creating different ways for people to write and communicate. One thing that was of great concern to him was the lack of literacy and general education in the country. After coming up with a tactile shorthand he called sonography, he shared his system and the tools he used with the Royal National Institute for Blind Youth in Parris.

The students in the school were taught to read using embossed types. This was very challenging. For one thing, they were using cursive, and similar characters like, ‘C’s, ‘A’s, and ‘O’s were difficult to decern by touch. Additionally, few words fit in a page making it incredibly expensive to reproduce large bodies of text, much more entire books. The school had limited materials for the students, nevertheless they learned the mechanics of reading and spelling.

The one thing the students were unable to do was write for themselves. Embossed texts were produced by machines and could not be handwritten. Some even learned to write using a pencil even though they themselves would not be able to read what they’ve written. This was the case until Louis Braille developed the basics of what we know as Braille today. For the first time ever, a blind person had the ability to really read and write independently—it was life changing!

Louis Braille

Louis Braille, 1809-1852, became blinded at the age of three when he was playing in his father’s harness shop. An awl, a sharp tool used for punching holes in leather, severely punctured his right eye. He developed an infection that spread to both eyes and caused him to lose all his vision by the age of 5.

Despite the horrific accident, Louis was a bright student who excelled in music. He received a scholarship to attend the Royal National Institute for Blind Youth in Parris. This school was originally a hospital and rehabilitation institution for blind veterans. He was a teenage student when he began to work on completely adapting Barbier’s ‘night writing’ for himself and the other students in the school.

Barbier’s code was based on 12 dotted cells. The different patterns of raised dots could represent alphabetical characters or phonetic sounds. Louis Braille was 15 years old when transformed the system to be based on 6 dotted cells so that every character can be easily identified with one touch. At the age of 21 he published his system, then continued to work on it so that it could also be used for music and math.

Braille in our Digital Age

Braille has been around for 200 years. Changes have been made over time and different countries have made modifications to fit their language structures. For the most part though, it remains as Louis Braille first invented it.

For a long time, using a slate and stylus was the main way to write Braille. Technology has caught up. From the Perkins Brailler developed in the 1930s to all the different Braille displays and Braille keyboard inputs in the market today, people are using Braille to interact with their computers and mobile devices.

Today not every blind person can read Braille. Some may even believe that with all the technology we have Braille is no longer relevant. Yet in a world of screen readers, smartphones, and accessibility AI, Braille literacy still has a positive impact. In fact, research shows if you know how to read and write Braille, you are more likely to be employed as a blind person.

Screen readers and accessibility AI are assistive technology that are essential and extremely helpful in providing vital information for someone who is blind or has low vision. But not everything can be accomplished efficiently by using audio only. Braille is critical in learning sentence structures, grammar, spelling, math, and music. Listening to audiobooks can be very satisfying, but being able to read text without anyone reading it for you is empowering. As a blind parent or family member, you could read to younger children using Braille books. Reading Braille labels on important everyday items like medicines and food packages requires no additional devices. Braille in public spaces like elevators, transportation stations, room numbers, etc. helps blind people navigate.

Braille is useful in the workplace. For example, customer service professionals can use Braille displays to read a lot of information quickly versus listening to the screen reader and the customer simultaneously. Braille would be helpful to a visually impaired teacher or someone who needs to read notes during a speech. Using Braille in combination with embossed images, charts, and graphs, that would be difficult to express via audio, can provide insight to a low vision professional who needs to analyze data.

Participate in National Braille Week

Above are just a few examples, but there are countless scenarios where Braille literacy makes a big difference to someone’s independence. By participating in National Braille Week, you can be part of spreading awareness that can change someone’s life.

During National Braille Week, learn more about Braille and share this RealSAM article with someone who may want to know about Braille and the sight loss community.

Reference:

“Debunking 11 Myths About the Invention of Braille.” YouTube, Uploaded by       Braille Adventures, 4 Jan. 2023,             https://youtu.be/xeIpbsrg7w4?si=OLx0Dgp7kheWhw-l.

“How the Evolution of the Brailler Expanded Braille Literacy.” Perkins School for     the blind, https://www.perkins.org/how-the-evolution-of-the-brailler- expanded-braille-literacy. Accessed 9 Oct. 2023.

“Louis Braille.” Encyclopedia Britanica, 2 Jan. 2023,             https://www.britannica.com/biography/Louis-Braille/additional-info#history Accessed 9 Oct. 2023.

Vernon, Tim. “Is Braille Relevant in 2017?” Perkins School for the Blind,             https://www.perkins.org/resource/braille-relevant-2017.                          Accessed 9 Oct. 2023.

The post From “Night Writing” to Braille Displays – Recognizing the Positive Impact of Braille on National Braille Week appeared first on RealSAM USA.