Object identification aids: What devices can help my dad identify objects despite his vision loss?
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What devices can help my dad identify objects despite his vision loss?
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Products mentioned in our answer below are provided to inform you about the types of technologies available and have not been evaluated by CanAssist. They may or may not be appropriate for your particular situation. Some technologies and devices may require an in-person assessment. Speak with your health care provider for additional information and support.
There are a number of simple vision aids, such as magnifiers and binoculars, which are designed to help people with vision loss to identify objects more easily. The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) offers a number of vision aids, which range in price from about $10 to $65 (CDN). Here is a direct link to CNIB’s vision aid selection.
The VoiceOver (iPhone) or TalkBack (Android) features, available on most smartphones and tablets, have also made it possible for people with visual impairments to make use of a number of helpful apps. Below you will find direct links to instructions on how to activate VoiceOver and TalkBack on your smartphone:
If your dad is comfortable using a smartphone or tablet with an accessibility feature enabled (e.g. VoiceOver or TalkBack), he may be interested in exploring an app that is designed to help people with vision loss to identify objects. Below are direct links to some examples:
- Be My Eyes app connects people with blindness and visual impairments with sighted volunteer helpers through a live video connection. This app is free and can be downloaded for Apple and Android devices. Since this app connects you with real people, we encourage you to read the Be My Eyes privacy policy before downloading.
- TapTapSee by CloudSight Inc. is another app designed to help those with visual impairments identify objects. To use this app, simply open the app to take a photo of the object you would like identified. The app will then tell you what the object is out loud. This app is free and can be downloaded for Apple and Android devices.
Another object identifier that may be of interest to you is the PenFriend3 Talking Labeler by Mantra Lingua (at maxiaids.com). To use this device, simply take one of the included self-adhesive labels, record an identifying message with your PenFriend, and then attach the label to a commonly used object. This device, which comes with 127 mixed-sized labels, costs about $200 (CDN) plus a shipping fee.
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