So voilà, I bought today a mobile phone running with an Android OS.
Like recent iPhone, Symbian and Windows Mobile OSes, this phone's user interface is touch sensitive and designed to be controlled entirely by a finger.
The newer phones include a camera to a minimum of at least 3 megapixels, GPS, accelerometer and digital compass, and access to wireless networks and 3G. It surpasses the level of an handheld device to reach that of a Swiss Army knife.
The use of such a phone by a blind person looks bleak, but the iPhone offers a world-class accessibility service with its "Voice Over" function. But the iPhone is expensive for purchase and maintenance, has no removable battery and is based on a closed system.
Alternatives to the iPhone still rare : phones running Symbian and Windows Mobile are not accessible from scratch, access is therefore carried by third party software that are struggling to adapt to newer phones. Only android offers a rather effective alternative since its 1.6 version with the integration of the open source screen reader "talkback" and additional applications bundled in the "Eyes Free Project".
So I chose a Samsung Spica Galaxy to study the Android system accessibility for people with visual impairments for several reasons:
First it was sold recently with the latest 2.1 version of Android, which includes among others a synthesized voice better than in the 1.6 version. Also unlike the HTC phone it keeps the default interface of Android, pledging for a better accessibility.
Second Keys relatively easy to find and a central arrow pad should simplify navigation through the menus.
Third battery life reaching 6:50 for calls and 600 hours of standby time according to manufacturer's data.
Finally this phone is one of the cheapest on the market. I could find one in France without subscription to less than 240 €, with a 50 € offer of additional reimbursement from Samsung.
Next step: receiving the package, unpacking and first impressions
No comments:
Post a Comment