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Search our database of 474,279 cutting edge ideas.

100 Aids for the Visually Impaired

From Talking Cooking Gear to Smartphones with Braille

— May 6, 2012 — Tech
While many daily tasks are still easier to accomplish for a person who can see clearly, there are a great deal of aids for the visually impaired that are making it a bit easier to get things done without being able to see.

The primary way for someone with diminished sight capacity to read text is through the use of Braille. This bumpy language was traditionally only used in books, but has recently been cropping up off the page as well, venturing as far as being included on specialized food products like hamburgers.

Smartphones and other vision-requiring devices are no longer off-limits for those without a pair of 20/20 vision peepers. New technology is allowing for everyone to use these tools with the aid of specialized technology and voice-assistance.

5.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
99
Prosthetic Eyes
Prosthetic Eyes
Sheila Nirenberg Reveals a New Device That Can Help with Vision Loss
<
98
Haptic Smartphones
Haptic Smartphones
KDDI Labs Invent a Touchscreen With the Familiar Feel of Buttons
<
97
Blindness-Curing Devices
Blindness-Curing Devices
These CATRA Smartphone Eyepieces Help Those With Cataracts
<
96
Visually Impaired Fashion
Visually Impaired Fashion
The Point Locus Jacket Uses GPS Technology to Show the Way
<
95
Laser-Wielding Wheelchairs
Laser-Wielding Wheelchairs
Lulea University's Laser Wheelchair Scans to Improve Sight
<
94
Blindfolded Soccer Stars
Blindfolded Soccer Stars
David Beckham Sainsbury's Ad Features Visually Impaired Football Team
<
93
Sightless Literary Devices
Sightless Literary Devices
The Braille App Brings Touchscreen Technology to the Visually Impaired
<
92
Altruistic Eye Surgeries
Altruistic Eye Surgeries
Aurolab is Eliminating Needless Blindness via Affordable Cataract Surgery
<
91
Voice-Response Phones
Voice-Response Phones
The Soft Pet Features Call-and-Respond Capability to Help Visually Impaired
<
90
Blind-Assisting Robots
Blind-Assisting Robots
Robotic Guide Dog is a Groundbreaking Creation for the Seeing Impaired
<
89
Eye Disease Simulation Apps
Eye Disease Simulation Apps
VisionSim Shows the World Through Impared Eyes
<
88
Sightless Soccer
Sightless Soccer
The ‘Sound of Football' Project Helps Blind People Play Via Sound Cue
<
87
Dotted Multi-Socket Labels
Dotted Multi-Socket Labels
The Braille Electric Plug Tags by Shuwen Chen Simplify Identification
<
86
Brail-Inspired Texting
Brail-Inspired Texting
The 'Tactile Texting' Utensil Helps the Blind Type on Their Cell Phones
<
85
Tactile Coffee Branding
Tactile Coffee Branding
Starbucks Braille Card for Visually Impaired Caffeine Lovers
<
84
Sightless Expedition Aids
Sightless Expedition Aids
The Peepo Explorer Helps Guide the Blind Through the Urban Jungle
<
83
Visually Impaired Glassware
Visually Impaired Glassware
The Transensing Project Emphasizes Touch and Sound
<
82
Pop-Up Buttons for Gadgets
Pop-Up Buttons for Gadgets
CMU Students Develop Dynamic Buttons for Sleek Displays
<
81
Sight-Aiding Electronics
Sight-Aiding Electronics
The Mobile Global Eye is a Vision of Innovation
<
80
Blind Touchscreen Gadgets
Blind Touchscreen Gadgets
Thimble Finger Glove Brings Visually Impaired into Tech Age
<
79
Blind Architect Consultants
Blind Architect Consultants
Chris Downey Turns Tragedy Into an Innovative New Gig
<
78
Cabs for the Blind
Cabs for the Blind
The Eric Leong IRIS Concept Cab Transports People Via Text Messaging
<
77
Dotted Smartphone Designs
Dotted Smartphone Designs
Shikun Sun's DrawBraille Phone is a Conceptual Cell for the Sightless
<
76
Vision-Enabling Gear
Vision-Enabling Gear
Guide Vest Helps the Visually Impaired
<
75
Sightless Tablet Translators
Sightless Tablet Translators
The Omnifer iPad Accessory Converts Onscreen Text into Braille
<
74
Blind-Aiding Radar
Blind-Aiding Radar
New Radar Systems for the Blind Could Help Them to 'See'
<
73
Vision-Enabling Bumpy Devices
Vision-Enabling Bumpy Devices
Braille-Equipped Electronic Readers Let the Blind Use Smartphones
<
72
Braille-Converting Gadgets
Braille-Converting Gadgets
The Readot Device Deepens Tech Experience for the Visually Impaired
<
71
Visually Handicapped Toys
Visually Handicapped Toys
Vicda Assists Physical Development for Vision Impaired Children
<
70
Affordable Braille Displays
Affordable Braille Displays
David Pankhurst's 'Audrey' Gives Blind People a Low-Cost Alternative
<
69
Blind Cameras
Blind Cameras
Sascha Pohflepp's 'Buttons' Camera Doesn't Take Pictures, Just Sees Them
<
68
Morse Code Timepieces
Morse Code Timepieces
The Vibrating Plated Watch Uses an Old Communication System to Tell Time
<
67
Microsoft Targets Blind
Microsoft Targets Blind
Word Docs Translated to Audio With Daisy
<
66
Blind-Aiding Sneakers
Blind-Aiding Sneakers
Le Chal Aims to Help the Visually Impaired in a Ground-Breaking Way
<
65
Near-Sighted Lecture Tech
Near-Sighted Lecture Tech
Note-Taker Enables Low Vision Students to See the Blackboard
<
64
Visual Barcode Scanners
Visual Barcode Scanners
See Assistive Techology Makes it Easier for the Blind to Shop
<
63
Barcode Translators
Barcode Translators
The Finger Reader Makes Grocery Shopping Easier on the Blind
<
62
Braille Measuring Devices
Braille Measuring Devices
The Tikk-Tekk Rainbow is Designed for the Blind
<
61
Blind Poetry
Blind Poetry
Australian Designers Create Braille Jewellery Line
<
60
Sightless Adhesive Aids
Sightless Adhesive Aids
Braille Tape Helps the Blind Organize Easier
<
59
Colorblind Traffic Lights
Colorblind Traffic Lights
The UNIsignal Incorporates Shapes into Stoplights for Accessibility
<
58
Visuals for the Blind
Visuals for the Blind
Brain Port Becomes Commercially Available Soon
<
57
Fingertip Reading Scanners
Fingertip Reading Scanners
The Haptic Braille Reads Text for the Visually Impaired
<
56
Gigantic Gadgets for the Visually Impaired
Gigantic Gadgets for the Visually Impaired
Oversized Keyboard
<
55
Braille Mobile Phones
Braille Mobile Phones
The Voim Smartphone is Designed for the Visually Impaired
<
54
Braille-Transcribing Scanners
Braille-Transcribing Scanners
The Money Identifier Makes Blind Bill-Paying Descrete
<
53
Dramatic Blind Lighting
Dramatic Blind Lighting
Stuart Fingerhut's Kinema Pendant Luminair has a Dramatic Effect
<
52
InnovativeTalking Sticks
InnovativeTalking Sticks
Sungjun Cha's 'Stick Talk' Helps the Hearing & Visually Impaired
<
51
Blind-Friendly Phones
Blind-Friendly Phones
The LG Loop by Andres Parada Caters to the Visually Impaired
<
50
Braille Measuring Jugs
Braille Measuring Jugs
Virgile Thevoz Designs a Liquid Measuring Tool for the Blind
<
49
Braille Education Balls
Braille Education Balls
The Be-B is a Molecular-Looking Conceptual Toy to Help Teach Braille
<
48
Handy Proxy Peepers
Handy Proxy Peepers
The 'Visually Impaired Assistant' is an At-Hand Guide for the Blind
<
47
Blind-Friendly Shopping Aids
Blind-Friendly Shopping Aids
The Braille Credit Card is for Sightless Shopaholics
<
46
Hi-Tech White Canes
Hi-Tech White Canes
Xun Ye's Origin GPS Helps the Visually Impaired Get to Their Destination
<
45
Visually Impaired Tours
Visually Impaired Tours
Cabracega Sensory Adventures in Lisbon
<
44
Color Blind Identifiers
Color Blind Identifiers
The Color Add Identification System Helps Differntiate Between Colors
<
43
Tactile Touchscreen Technology
Tactile Touchscreen Technology
The Zen Tablet Was Designed with the Blind in Mind
<
42
Braille Mobile Phones
Braille Mobile Phones
Seonkeun Park Creates a Mobile for the Visually Impaired
<
41
Tech Replaces Seeing Eye Dogs
Tech Replaces Seeing Eye Dogs
Mygo Cane
<
40
3D Braille Maps
3D Braille Maps
The Brainovi Navigates Blind People in the Right Direction
<
39
Braille Mobiles
Braille Mobiles
The Universal Phone Designed for the Blind
<
38
Braille E-Books
Braille E-Books
The Perfect Gadget for Visually-Impaired Readers
<
37
Braille Band-Aid Boxes
Braille Band-Aid Boxes
U.S. Seeing Textured Packaging for the Visually Impaired
<
36
Talking Cooking Appliances
Talking Cooking Appliances
The Anple Rice Cooker Helps the Blind Prepare Their Meal
<
35
Braille Health Monitors
Braille Health Monitors
The Blood Pressure Monitor for the Blind is a Useful Invention
<
34
Tactile Teaching Pencils
Tactile Teaching Pencils
Feelor Touch the Color Pencils Help Blind Children Learn Different Hues
<
33
Braille Stovetops
Braille Stovetops
R.D. Silva's Sentino Cook Top Makes Blind Cooking Safer and Easier
<
32
Tactile Wand is the New Blind Stick
Tactile Wand is the New Blind Stick
The Cand Gets Wiimoted
<
31
Blind Guide Bracelets
Blind Guide Bracelets
Project Bee Navigator Affords the Visually Impaired Independence
<
30
iPhone Mods for the Visually Impaired
iPhone Mods for the Visually Impaired
'Silicon Touch' Case
<
29
Temperature Time-Tellers
Temperature Time-Tellers
Jung Hoon Lee's Rub Feel Know Watch is for the Visually Impaired
<
28
Camera for the Blind
Camera for the Blind
Touch Sight
<
27
Braille Label Makers
Braille Label Makers
The Braille Punch Sticker Easily Creates Labels for the Visually Impaired
<
26
Blind Mind Games
Blind Mind Games
The Braille Rubik's Cube by Konstantin Datz
<
25
Clever Tactile Notations
Clever Tactile Notations
The 'Braille Stapler' is a User-Friendly Gadget for the Blind
<
24
Braille Timepieces
Braille Timepieces
'Tact' from Julien Bergignat Lets the Blind Feel the Time
<
23
Transmuting Multimedia Gloves
Transmuting Multimedia Gloves
The 'Panopticon' Device Will Read to You Aloud
<
22
Tactile Cooking Utensils
Tactile Cooking Utensils
Sento Cookware Provides Safe and Easy Kitchen Supplies for the Blind
<
21
Blind Time Tellers
Blind Time Tellers
The Braille Wristwatch Makes Telling Time Simpler and Intuitive
<
20
Braille Watches
Braille Watches
‘Feel the Time' Lets You Tell Time by Touch
<
19
Braille Burgers
Braille Burgers
Fast Food Chain Wimpy Passes a Message to Visually Impaired Customers
<
18
Future Tech Predictions
Future Tech Predictions
Laptops in 2015
<
17
Cell Phones for the Blind
Cell Phones for the Blind
Nokia knfbReader Mobile
<
16
Braille Tea-Brewing Thermoses
Braille Tea-Brewing Thermoses
This Halim Lee Special Teatime Infuser is a Barista for the Blind
<
15
Braille Label Makers
Braille Label Makers
Innovative Design Creates Stickers for Visually Impaired
<
14
Blind Photographers
Blind Photographers
Visually Impaired Artists Find Their Vision Through the Lens
<
13
GPS Walking Sticks
GPS Walking Sticks
The Sonicane 2.0 Lets the Blind Guide Themselves
<
12
Wrist-Worn Sonar Escorts
Wrist-Worn Sonar Escorts
The Minhye Kim 'Supersonic Stick' Guides the Blind With Sound
<
11
Tactile Timekeepers
Tactile Timekeepers
The Haptica Braille Watch Indicates the Hour to Your Fingertips
<
10
Text-to-Voice Wands
Text-to-Voice Wands
'Voice Stick' Facilitates the Blind, the Elderly and the Lazy
<
9
Mugs for the Sightless
Mugs for the Sightless
The Braun Bell Makes Beverage Pouring Easier for the Blind
<
8
Sensational Tactile Timepieces
Sensational Tactile Timepieces
The Rub. Feel. Know Watch Gives You a Sense of the Hour
<
7
Braille City Maps
Braille City Maps
The DROP GPS Device Encourages You to Follow Blindly
<
6
Insightful Packaging Campaigns
Insightful Packaging Campaigns
Blind Foundation Guerrilla Grocery Ads Highlight Lack of Braille
<
5
RFID Walking Sticks
RFID Walking Sticks
Visionplus Provides Navigation Help for the Visually Impaired
<
4
Spiral Dial Timepieces
Spiral Dial Timepieces
Tactile Watch by Jake Rynkiewicz Allows the Blind to Feel the Hour
<
3
Porn For The Blind
Porn For The Blind
Naughty Reading for the Visually Impaired
<
2
Palm-Placed Navigators
Palm-Placed Navigators
The Munivo Guide for the Blind Communicates Through Touch
<
1
Motion Sensor Walkers
Motion Sensor Walkers
The Light Stick Helps the Blind
<