Exploring the use of smartphones and tablets among people with visual impairments: Are mainstream devices replacing the use of traditional visual aids?

Abstract

Smartphones and tablets incorporate built-in accessibility features, but little is known about their impact within the visually impaired population. This study explored the use of smartphones and tablets, the degree to which they replace traditional visual aids, and factors influencing these decisions. Data were collected through an anonymous online survey targeted toward visually impaired participants above the age of 18, whom had been using a smartphone or tablet for at least three months. Among participants (n = 466), 87.4% felt that mainstream devices are replacing traditional solutions. This is especially true for object identification, navigation, requesting sighted help, listening to audiobooks, reading eBooks and optical character recognition. In these cases, at least two-thirds of respondents indicated that mainstream devices were replacing traditional tools most or all of the time. Users across all ages with higher selfreported proficiency were more likely to select a mainstream device over a traditional solution. Our results suggest that mainstream devices are frequently used amongst visually impaired adults in place of or in combination with traditional assistive aids for specific tasks; however, traditional devices are still preferable for certain tasks, including those requiring extensive typing or editing. This provides important context to designers and rehabilitation personnel in understanding the factors influencing device usage.

Smartphones for Vision Rehabilitation: Accessible Features and Apps, Opportunity, Challenges, and Usability Evaluation

“…An exploratory study on smartphone use among people with visual impairment shows that more than 90% of respondents used their mobile for activities such as calls, sending and receiving message, browsing the web, reading emails; 70-80% of them used smartphone for calendar functions, listening music and social media, and networking; 60 to 70% of them used for reminders and to take photos for reading with Optical Character Recognition [18]. This study also shows that 80% of participants used a smartphone for outdoor GPS navigation.…”

“…In many cases, the smartphones apps can function for multipurpose tasks that facilitate independence living. Natalina et al study also highlighted that the smartphones are replacing many traditional assistive solution to a great extend in doing daily activities [18]. A few studies reported that participating in digital arenas and accessing digital technology, including smartphones, reduce loneliness feeling, improve social contact, information sharing, gaining a better interaction with friends and family [21][22][23].…”

Device abandonment in deafblindness: a scoping review of the intersection of functionality and usability through the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health lens

“… 9 10 As for more contemporary technologies (eg, head-mounted displays), cybersickness and headaches influence device use. 7 However, mainstream devices (eg, tactile tablets and smartphones) have been described as great equalisers and facilitators of device acceptance 11 ; they are perceived as ‘normal’ when used in public, and are appreciated for their modern aesthetics. 12 …”

Design considerations for the ideal low vision aid: insights from de‐brief interviews following a real‐world recording study

“…Advances in technology now enable the design of a new generation of wearable electronic sight aids 7,8 . Positive signs of successfully utilising new technological capabilities also come from everyday consumer devices being increasingly utilised by and for people with visual impairment 9,10 …”