Top Low Vision Tech

Assistive technology and low vision devices have come a long way in the past decade, and the race to make devices better and more comprehensive is on. While there are thousands of low vision devices out there, we think there are a few front-runners that are pushing the boundaries of what is expected.

Dot

This smartwatch is noted as being the first tactile smart watch on the market. A sleek design and user-friendly tech have made this watch very popular. Just recently, Dot released a new watch with the ability to tell the time, date, read texts, and tell you the name of a person calling you. It can do all of these things without making a sound. The watch uses braille to spell out notifications.

For those who do not read braille, the Dot Watch has a learning program designed specifically for non-braille readers.

Be My Eyes

Be my eyes is one of our favorite apps, and it is not just because its free… but that is a huge plus! This app connects you to a sighted volunteer via video chat. During the video chat, the user can rely on the sighted volunteer to help them with everyday tasks like checking labels while shopping, navigating their surroundings, identifying bills when checking out at a store, and countless other tasks.

This app ranks high on our list because of its ability to make the world more accessible to those living with low vision, all while not charging a dime.

eSight

We could not talk about low vision devices and leave out this company. This device works well for those with partial sight that might need help seeing what is in front of them. It provides the wearer with a clearer picture of what is in their line of sight by enhancing the image and magnifying it up to 24 times the size. It allows the wearer to apply different contrast, change color settings, and focus an image all from a hand-held remote.

OrCam

It may be small, but it is mighty! This tiny wearable device is gaining momentum in the vision aid world because of how easy it is to wear. By clipping onto your glasses, this device takes away the chunkiness of many low vision devices. This smart camera helps the wearer with reading text, recognizing faces, and translating text to audio. If paired with Mobileye, the sister company of Orcam, this device can also aid in obstacle avoidance and driving.

 Seeing AI

You might remember a previous blog in which we mentioned this app. Artificial intelligence has found a place in the vision aid world, and it is here to stay. One of the best examples of how this technology is used is through a totally free app made by Microsoft. The app, similar to Be My Eyes, is helping its users navigate the world. It achieves this lofty task by turning a visual world into an audible one. Touting facial recognition, abilities to transcribe written and typed text, an ability to explain surroundings to the user, and six other features, this app has extremely exciting implications for the future.

Click here to read our blog on Artificial Intelligence

Click here to read our blog on smart phone apps for visual impairments