RNIB Transcript for: Getting Interested in
Technology
Voice Over:
RNIB – Supporting blind and partially sighted people.
Getting Interested in Technology
Intro:
Robin Spinks:
Having access to technology can enhance almost every aspect of
our lives. Being included is very much about being connected.
Whether it's for online shopping, Internet banking, or simply
staying in touch with friends or family, technology plays a pivotal
role in everyone's lives.
It's very, very simple to get started with technology. You can learn
bit by bit and day by day. So in this short series of videos we've
broken down all of the popular topics and questions around
technology and we've made it really simple and user friendly and
we hope that you find it to be a very valuable resource.
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Registered charity number 226227
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Chapter 2 - Smartphones and Tablets
Robin Spinks:
Hi, I'm Robin Spinks, I'm 39 years old, I'm partially sighted and I
am a gadget enthusiast and I have to say that the smart phone is
my device of choice.
Ellie Southwood:
Hi, I'm Ellie Southwood. I've been blind all my life and so have got
into the latest technology, every time it's come around and this
time it's been smartphones.
Madleen Mann:
Hi I'm Madleen Mann. I am 30 years old, I have been blind all my
life, and I could not live without my iPhone any more.
Robin Spinks:
Now, over the past few years there has been an explosion in the
use of smartphones. Now, if you're not too sure what a
smartphone is, quite simply, it's a very clever mobile phone that
can perform all sorts of really valuable functions, all made possible
by being connected to the Internet. Let's get down to the nitty
gritty, there's a lot out there, Ellie, where do we start?
Ellie Southwood:
I think we start with what on earth do you want to do with it? So
there's things in the market, if you want to simply make and
receive calls. There are things in the market, if you want to go on
the Internet.
Robin Spinks:
Madleen, you're a smartphone user, aren't you? Tell us a bit about
what you currently use.
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Madleen Mann:
I currently use an iPhone 5.
Robin Spinks:
How does that work, if you're a person who doesn't have useful
vision?
Madleen Mann:
The iPhone comes with a screen reader called Voiceover and it's
very easy to switch that on when you first get your iPhone.
Robin Spinks:
How do you interact with a touch screen that's essentially a flat
surface, if you actually don't have anything there to feel?
Madleen Mann:
You get to know, for example, where your cancel button is, or
where your keyboard is on the screen.
Ellie Southwood:
I'm a huge smartphone fan but I guess not everybody is going to
want to use a touch screen phone or smartphone.
Robin Spinks:
The most important thing is to really explore. Try out the options
that are available, and find out what works best for you, and if you
need any help with that, you can get in touch and discuss your
options.
Now, if you don't want a traditional computer, another option that
you could consider is a tablet. Tablets essentially occupy the
space... between a smartphone and a traditional computer. They're
becoming really popular with people who are blind or partially
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sighted. A tablet will allow you to do most of the things that a
traditional computer would do, but with much more portability, and
it will allow you to use built-in accessibility features.
Ellie Southwood:
It sounds like these might be brilliant for people, who've got some
sight, so they might want to enlarge things on the screen, where a
smartphone screen just isn't big enough.
Where do you see them being useful for people with no useful
vision, Madleen?
Madleen Mann:
Some people would say that having a tablet would enable them to
use the keyboard a bit better and people like that, they don't want
a tiny thing.
Ellie Southwood:
The other thing I've always wondered about is cameras. There's
lots of hype about how good a pixel cameras have. What use is a
camera to someone who can't see?
Madleen Mann:
The camera can be very useful. Want to know what you've got in
your cupboard? The camera enables you to scan your product,
and know, is it a tin of tomatoes or is it a tin of baked beans.
Robin Spinks:
And it's important to remember that the latest tablets. all have
some level of accessibility features built in. Prices range from
about £159 upwards, but the most important things
Find out what you want to do with the device
Keep it simple
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Explore what is available before making a choice
Thank you both for your contributions and if you want to find out
more information, you can do so by getting in touch with us via our
helpline.