Mobile operator Vodacom has unveiled a range of Nokia smartphones that will deliver the benefits of mobile communications to the visually impaired.
The Nokia E52 and N86 smartphones come pre-loaded with text-to-speech software, which converts text-based information displayed on a cellphone screen-to-speech, enabling users to listen to their text messages, contacts, battery strength and signal strength.
The text-to-speech solution is third-party software licensed to Vodacom, which is uploaded onto the phone. Vodacom carries the cost of the software licence.
MTN has a similar offering in its MTN Talking phone, which it unveiled in December last year.
Mobile communications are an essential part of modern life, explains Shameel Joosub, MD of Vodacom SA. “The Nokia E52 and N86 have the ability to make a real difference in the lives of our visually impaired customers by ensuring that they are able to use a cellphone independently,” he adds.
No limits
Johan Grov'e, specialist for specific needs at Vodacom SA, who is also visually impaired, explains that the text-to-speech software enables a visually impaired user to use all of the features available on a smartphone.
“The text-to-speech software simply converts all 'text' on the handset's display to audio. Thus reading what the sighted person would see,” he says.
“It will read your menu when the 'menu' button is pressed, the up-and-down arrow will read the next or previous option on the menu, respectively.”
Grov'e explains that when the “contacts” button is pressed, it reads the name of the first contact on the list. By pressing the down arrow, users can go through the list or alternatively they can press “M” to go to the first name starting with the letter “M”, to find “Mike”, for instance.
“The text-to-speech software will also read your SMS messages. It will say 'one new message' when the message arrives on the handset.
“When opening the message, it will read the actual message word for word, including the name or number of the sender. When typing an SMS, it will read the characters as you type them,” he continues.
“As a visually impaired person myself, I use cellphone banking on my cellphone all the time. I cannot read the numbers on the keypad, nor can I read anything on the screen,” notes Grov'e.
“The text-to-speech guides me to select the beneficiary, account, amount to be paid, type of notification and so on.”
The software also allows the blind person access to the gallery to listen to music and to access radio on the cellphone. And a blind user can access the GPS on the handset to plot in a destination, he states.
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