November Newsletter 297.
iPhones can now tell blind users where and how far away people are
New accessibility features in the latest beta versionof iOS: a system that detects the presence of and distance to people in the view of the iPhone’s camera, so blind users can social distance effectively, among many other things.
More details: https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/30/iphones-can-now-tell-blind-users-where-and-how-far-away-people-are/
Study to test eye ‘retraining’ treatment for sight loss caused by a stroke
Researchers at the University of Liverpool are leading a new study to test the effectiveness of a treatment for ‘retraining’ the eyes for people who experience a loss of vision after stroke. Hemianopia – the loss of vision or blindness in half the visual field on the right or left side – occurs suddenly in 30% of stroke survivors and can have a devastating impact on their quality of life. Currently, there is no cure and treatment to help those with hemianopia compensate for their sight loss is variable and not standardised in the NHS. This is due to uncertainty about what works best and when is the best time to offer treatment, resulting in unfair differences in the care people receive.
Freeview rolls out accessible TV guide
Freeview has started the roll-out of its Accessible TV Guide, available on Channel 555 through Freeview Play devices. Freeview says this is the first time that a dedicated solution to make television easily accessible to people with visual or hearing impairments has been made available on a UK TV platform. Freeview’s Accessible TV Guide will make it easier for all audiences to find content.
https://advanced-television.com/2020/10/30/freeview-play-rolls-out-accessible-tv-guide/
Accessibility options making video games accessible to all
Sometimes unreadable text can create barriers. Sometimes the difficulty level is the problem. Essentially, certain games can alienate a percentage of potential players. Thankfully, change is afoot, with video game developers thinking more about the accessibility of their titles.
For a list of improvements see: https://www.makeuseof.com/accessibility-options-making-video-games-more-accessible/