An Android smartphone for the visually impaired

Now even the visually impaired can enjoy the power-packed features of an Android smartphone. Qualcomm has introduced its Ray mobile device for the visually impaired. According to the company, the Ray device is “…an alwayson, easy-to-use, multi-function smartphone synchronised with audio books from Israel's Central Library for the Blind, Visually Impaired and Handicapped.” Till now, the blind and visually impaired were forced to use simple 2G mobile phones catering only to voice telephony. The World Health Organisation has highlighted the shocking truth that about 285 million people are visually impaired worldwide: 39 million are blind and 246 have low vision. Most of the visually impaired are over 50 years old and this group forms 20 per cent of the world's population.

The less fortunate visually impaired have to depend on devices like audio book-readers, colour readers, navigation tools, raised Braille labels, special