The Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone comes packed with tools to assist users with special needs by providing significantly better accessibility for the disabled.
According to Statistics SA, more than two million people in SA are living with a disability, meaning that 4.3% of the South African population is disabled.
Samsung says people with disabilities face many barriers; however, the emergence of computing technology for tasks such as reading and writing documents, communicating with others and searching for information on the Internet, is helping to bridge this gap.
As a result, it adds, students and employees with disabilities are capable of handling a wide range of activities independently.
"We are immensely honoured to be in a position to offer technology to assist the disabled community in our country," says Craige Fleischer, director of mobile communications at Samsung SA. "At Samsung, we believe that the only way technology can be meaningful, is to put it in the hands of customers, in order to improve their lives."
The Galaxy S5 is equipped with features that were designed with the needs of senior and disabled communities in mind. These features are highlighted on an accessibility menu that is listed by category, enabling users to easily identify and operate them.
The following features are included to make technology more accessible:
Visibility
TalkBack reads text on the smartphone's screen and works with the device's camera by dividing the screen into nine sections to assist the user to locate faces before capturing photographs. If one person is identified, it guides the user to position the face in the middle of the screen.
Through this feature, the user can more easily utilise the Galaxy S5's 16MP camera. This feature also enables the smartphone to read numbers that are pressed, out loud.
In order to protect the privacy of the visually impaired, the user can access the Galaxy S5's features with the screen turned off. With this tool, the user can operate the device without having to be conscious of others in public places. When the device is operated with the screen off, power consumption is also reduced.
The Galaxy S5 provides seven different font sizes including smallest, very small, small, medium, large, very large and largest so that users can choose the font size they are able to read most comfortably.
It is equipped with a feature that reverses colours to increase readability on the display. Additionally, for those who have difficulty reading texts in certain colours, the device allows users to customise and fine-tune subtle colours.
The Galaxy S5 uses an Optical Reader to extract texts and data from images, documents, name cards and QR codes in order to identify patterns of colour and read text out loud. This enables the visually impaired to do more with their device, such as choosing an outfit by perceiving colours shown on the display.
Hearing
Developed specifically for people who have a hearing impairment, the device vibrates to notify the user when the baby is crying. Users can also receive these alerts through Samsung's extended wearable line of Gear devices, including Gear 2, Gear Fit and Gear 1. Users can easily distinguish these notifications by setting a different vibration pattern from incoming calls or alarm alerts.
The Auto Haptic allows the device to be switched to vibrate. This feature switches sound to vibration - the Galaxy S5 vibrates with sounds produced by certain applications for music, games and video for that enhanced sensory experience.
Users who are deaf or hard of hearing are able to utilise the Flash notifications alert function to notify them of any alerts, incoming calls and alarms. The light on the camera will start to flash to draw attention to the device, in order to respond to a message or to be reminded of a scheduled event.
The Turn Off All Sounds feature allows users to mute all smartphone sounds in one go, helping the hard of hearing to avoid mistakes such as having their phone ring in a library or during a performance.
Physical disabilities
The assistant menu is a virtual mouse pad designed for users with limited hand movement. It enables them to enjoy frequently-used features more quickly and easily. Frequently used menus can be set and the touch pad and cursor's size are adjustable, as well as the speed of the cursor.
The smartphone additionally provides an "Assistant Plus" which displays menu options for favourite features such as photo gallery and contacts.
Air Gesture allows the screen to be switched on. This feature enables users who are unable to push hardware buttons to turn on the screen simply by waving their hand over the device.
Users can also customise the device input method with interaction control. This functionality lets the user choose an input method when using applications or settings. A user can disable the touch screen input, as well as the lock auto screen rotation and the hardware key, to prevent making accidental commands.
Accessibility features
In addition to the above-listed features, the Galaxy S5 offers functions that enable users to easily operate the device's accessibility features. By pressing the home key three times while in any screen, one can easily set or disable accessibility, talkback, colour reversal and input control.
"The Galaxy S5 exemplifies Samsung's commitment to 'people-inspired' innovation and through the development of ground-breaking technology we are confident that the practical and valuable features will empower individuals with disabilities and in turn, improve lives," says Fleischer.
Share