Visually Impaired Mobile Phone Buyers’ Guide1

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We try our best to fulfil our duty to clients by ensuring that they are getting what they need from their phone, no matter what their requirements are. With so many mobile phones on the market today, it can be a fairly difficult decision to make when buying a new handset. If you are visually impaired, that decision is particularly important and still as difficult. If we are approached by a client who is visually impaired, we would start out by having a quick chat with them regarding firstly what they want their phone to do, and what other requirements they might have. We then present a variety of handset options to suit their budget, and take it from there. Here are a few important points to consider:

Especially if you have trouble seeing, it will be useful if you can quickly and easily access the phone’s main features. More importantly, does the phone do what you need it to do?
Large buttons with high contrast text will help you see what each button does, and having them clearly spaced and in ‘obvious’ places will help you to be able to use it more easily.
Handsets with touchscreens can be of great benefit to visually impaired people in that the ‘buttons’ are backlit and in colour, and the visual design will (usually!) reflect its purpose. However, you must make sure that it’s still easy to use. Touchscreen phones are particularly difficult to see in bright sunlight due to the reflective surface of the screen, and while the high contrast colours are useful, often text is small.
As with any phone, it is important that you can get a decent length of time out of it between charges. If you are visually impaired and your phone battery dies, you may not be able to use someone else’s phone easily in an emergency situation. This makes it particularly important for the visually impaired to ensure that your phone has an acceptable battery life.
While you may have found a phone you absolutely love that will tick all the boxes, some mobile phones can be very expensive. Make a clear distinction between what is essential and what is a bonus, and take the time to consider different options.

It is important to remember, though, that everyone is different and requirements can vary. Here at Veecom Systems we make sure that your needs are met, and we can offer a range of options for the visually impaired user. Source: BBC Ouch!: Blind and visually impaired mobile phone buyer’s guide – 08/02/10