Many guidebooks are now available as downloads and podcasts. Don't shy away from these as they are fantastic to listen to while you're on the move.
Travel downloads and podcasts
If you're unsure as to what a podcast is and how it works, our Getting started with podcasts page tells you all you need to know.
www.tourcaster.com has a collection of downloadable MP3 audio guides and tours costing from around £5 each.
Search for 'walks on podcasts' (or similar) on Google or any other search engine, and you'll find hundreds of treats for your MP3 player, many with the added bonus of being free of charge.
Traveleyes has launched a number of Lonely Planet travel guides in electronic text, specially formulated for blind and visually impaired people. These include Andalucia, Malta, Morocco, California, Italy, Cuba, Crete and Canada.
Many travel titles are available as audiobooks from leading bookshops, and can be easily downloaded from sites such as Audible.
Mobile phone apps
Mobile phones and smartphones have revolutionised travel - becoming the ultimate travel companion for many people, especially people who are blind or partially sighted.
Finding your way
There are many applications or 'apps' that can be downloaded on to your smartphone to help you find your way. These applications can be downloaded from the marketplace on your smartphone, for example the Apple iTunes store. They vary in price from free to a few pounds.
The UK Train Times app can help you to find the names and distances of your nearest stations, plan journeys and access live departure information. It's fully licensed by National Rail, and it won Mobile Product of the Year at the UK IT Awards 2009.
The Tube Exits app helps you save time on your tube journeys by telling you exactly which carriage to board so you arrive right by your platform exit. Tube Exits will also tell you which side of the carriage you'll be getting off. The great thing about Tube Exits is that it works anywhere and everywhere, even underground on the tube. No signal required! Tube Exits covers every station on the London Underground, Docklands Light Railway and East London Overground (Zones 1-9). If you have a journey you make regularly, you can save it as a favourite right in the Tube Exits app.
The oMoby app allows you to identify objects by taking a photo with your mobile phone. You'll then be told a range of information about the product, such as price and customer reviews. There are also other accessibility features such as, VoiceOver which automatically announces progress while the photo you've taken is being analysed which then also reads out all the result.
Guides and maps
There are also applications that have information to help you on your trip, including guidebooks, phrase books and maps.
Lonely Planet sells guidebook-style apps for over 20 cities.
Dorling Kindersley offers Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch. You'll find everything from the best buys in Bangkok to where locals dine in Rome.
Time Out has published a selection of new city guides apps, to Barcelona, Paris, Buenos Aires, Berlin and London. These are £2.99 each, available through iTunes.