Accessible iPad
Today the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) congratulates Apple for designing the iPad device with built-in software that lets blind and partially sighted people use it. The UK's leading sight loss charity calls on other manufacturers to follow this lead.
Built-in accessibility features
Built-in accessibility features include Zoom - allowing you to increase the size of text, White on Black - allowing you to change the colour of the screen display and text, and VoiceOver - screen reading software.
RNIB's Principal Manager of Digital Accessibility, Robin Spinks, says: "When it comes to embedding accessibility, Apple has set the standard in recent years, changing the expectations of blind and partially sighted consumers. The fact that iPad's accessibility features are in-built is a very exciting development. It is now up to other manufacturers to follow the lead set by Apple."
Revolutionary
Significantly, the iPad could start a revolution in providing blind and partially sighted people with access to electronic books, placing them on a par with their sighted friends and family. With less than 5 per cent of books published in the UK available in braille, audio or large print - electronic books could dramatically increase access to reading.
A blind iPad user can purchase electronic books from iBooks and listen to them with VoiceOver. The built-in screen reader can be activated using the accessibility features from iTunes at the same time as registering the iPad. If you have assistive technology on your computer, this process can be done without sighted assistance.
Blind and partially sighted users
Kiran Kaja, is blind and uses a screen reader. He says: "I am thrilled at the opportunity of being able to buy a mainstream device from a retail store and start using it without installing an additional piece of software.
"The VoiceOver screen reader on iPhone 3GS and iPad provides very good accessibility both to built-in and to third-party applications. But being able to buy a book from the iBooks and read it instantly is a feature that I never expected would be available to blind people! It's fantastic! Will other mainstream technology companies now realise the importance of universal accessibility and treat people with disabilities on a par with other customers?"
For more information from RNIB on new technologies visit www.rnib.org.uk/technology
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For further information or to arrange a media interview with an RNIB spokesperson, please contact RNIB Media Relations Team on 020 7391 2223 or email pressoffice@rnib.org.uk. Out of hours call 07968 482812.