Categories: Science & Technology

Georgie, first smartphone designed for blind people, launched in UK

Georgie, the first smartphone designed for blind people, has been recently launched in UK.

Georgie, as the device is known, has a voice-assisted touchscreen and offers a variety of apps to help complete tasks such as catching a bus, reading printed text and pinpointing location.

The phone was designed by blind husband-and-wife team Roger and Margaret Wilson-Hinds from Peterborough.

It was named after Margaret Wilson-Hinds’ first guide dog.

The couple run a not-for-profit social enterprise Screenreader.

The handset is powered by an Android operating system and uses existing Samsung handsets such as the Samsung XCover and Galaxy Ace 2.

Georgie has a voice-assisted touchscreen and offers a variety of apps to help complete tasks such as catching a bus, reading printed text and pinpointing location

“I was able to send my very first text just earlier this year thanks to Georgie,” said Roger Wilson-Hinds.

“It’s exactly the type of digital experience we want to make easily available to people with little or no sight. It is also going to help solve everyday problems for blind people so they can be more confident about navigating the real world and become independent,” he said.

Robin Spinks, principal manager for digital accessibility at the Royal National Institute of Blind People, said: “Research continues to show that many blind and partially-sighted people struggle with the complexity of today’s smartphone technology.”

“Georgie is to be commended for allowing users to access the features of a range of modern smartphones in an easy-to-use and accessible manner,” he added.

The smartphone lets users dial a number with the voice-assisted touchscreen and uses speech input to send text messages.

Other apps are available in three different bundles; travel, lifestyle and communicate. Each bundle costs £24.99 ($40).

The phone is being distributed by Sight and Sound Technology, a firm which provides hardware and software to blind and visually- impaired people.

It is available from £299 ($475) or, for those with existing Android smartphones, a downloadable version can be purchased from Google Play, priced at £149 ($235).

It comes pre-loaded with a data SIM card. Users with pre-existing phone contracts can have it transferred to the new device or install a pay-as-you-go SIM card.

In the UK almost two million people are living with sight loss, with 360,000 registered as blind.

 

Nancy Clayson

Nancy is a young, full of life lady who joined the team shortly after the BelleNews site started to run. She is focused on bringing up to light all the latest news from the technology industry. In her opinion the hi-tech expresses the humanity intellectual level. Nancy is an active person; she enjoys sports and delights herself in doing gardening in her spare time, as well as reading, always searching for new topics for her articles.

Recent Posts

Donald Trump and Elon Musk Celebrate Election Victory at UFC 309

Image source: Wikimedia Commons President-elect Donald Trump celebrated his election victory at the Ultimate Fighting…

5 days ago

White House 2024: Donald Trump Wins, Kamala Harris Calls Him to Concede Election

Millions of voters across the US chose to return Donald Trump to the White House…

2 weeks ago

Who Won? Donald Trump Declares Victory as He Addresses Jubilant Supporters in Florida

Donald Trump declares victory in the US election as he addresses jubilant supporters in Florida.…

2 weeks ago

Stocks Soaring as Donald Trump Closes in on US Victory

Stocks around the world are rising as Donald Trump appears to be on the cusp…

2 weeks ago

Who Won? Kamala Harris Cancels Election Night Party as Path to Victory Narrows

Donald Trump has won Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia and taken a lead over Kamala…

2 weeks ago

Quincy Jones Dead at 91

Quincy Jones, the celebrated musician and producer who worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ray…

2 weeks ago