RNIB Transcript For: Getting Interested in Technology

1.RNIB Transcript for: Getting Interested in Technology Voice Over: RNIB – Supporting blind and partially sighted people. Getting Interested in Technology Intro: Robin Spinks: Having access to technology can enhance almost every aspect of our lives. Being included is very much about being connected. Whether it's for online shopping, Internet banking, or simply staying in touch with friends or family, technology plays a pivotal role in everyone's lives. It's very, very simple to get started with technology. You can learn bit by bit and day by day. So in this short series of videos we've broken down all of the popular topics and questions around technology and we've made it really simple and user friendly and we hope that you find it to be a very valuable resource.

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Registered charity number 226227 rnib.org.uk Chapter 2 - Smartphones and Tablets

Robin Spinks: Hi, I'm Robin Spinks, I'm 39 years old, I'm partially sighted and I am a gadget enthusiast and I have to say that the smart phone is my device of choice.

Ellie Southwood: Hi, I'm Ellie Southwood. I've been blind all my life and so have got into the latest technology, every time it's come around and this time it's been smartphones.

Madleen Mann: Hi I'm Madleen Mann. I am 30 years old, I have been blind all my life, and I could not live without my iPhone any more.

Robin Spinks: Now, over the past few years there has been an explosion in the use of smartphones. Now, if you're not too sure what a smartphone is, quite simply, it's a very clever mobile phone that can perform all sorts of really valuable functions, all made possible by being connected to the Internet. Let's get down to the nitty gritty, there's a lot out there, Ellie, where do we start?

Ellie Southwood: I think we start with what on earth do you want to do with it? So there's things in the market, if you want to simply make and receive calls. There are things in the market, if you want to go on the Internet.

Robin Spinks:

rnib.org.uk Madleen, you're a smartphone user, aren't you? Tell us a bit about what you currently use. Madleen Mann: I currently use an iPhone 5.

Robin Spinks: How does that work, if you're a person who doesn't have useful vision?

Madleen Mann: The iPhone comes with a screen reader called Voiceover and it's very easy to switch that on when you first get your iPhone.

Robin Spinks: How do you interact with a touch screen that's essentially a flat surface, if you actually don't have anything there to feel?

Madleen Mann: You get to know, for example, where your cancel button is, or where your keyboard is on the screen.

Ellie Southwood: I'm a huge smartphone fan but I guess not everybody is going to want to use a touch screen phone or smartphone.

Robin Spinks: The most important thing is to really explore. Try out the options that are available, and find out what works best for you, and if you

rnib.org.uk need any help with that, you can get in touch and discuss your options. Now, if you don't want a traditional computer, another option that you could consider is a tablet. Tablets essentially occupy the space... between a smartphone and a traditional computer. They're becoming really popular with people who are blind or partially sighted. A tablet will allow you to do most of the things that a traditional computer would do, but with much more portability, and it will allow you to use built-in accessibility features.

Ellie Southwood: It sounds like these might be brilliant for people, who've got some sight, so they might want to enlarge things on the screen, where a smartphone screen just isn't big enough. Where do you see them being useful for people with no useful vision, Madleen?

Madleen Mann: Some people would say that having a tablet would enable them to use the keyboard a bit better and people like that, they don't want a tiny thing.

Ellie Southwood: The other thing I've always wondered about is cameras. There's lots of hype about how good a pixel cameras have. What use is a camera to someone who can't see?

Madleen Mann: The camera can be very useful. Want to know what you've got in your cupboard? The camera enables you to scan your product, and know, is it a tin of tomatoes or is it a tin of baked beans.

rnib.org.uk Robin Spinks: And it's important to remember that the latest tablets. all have some level of accessibility features built in. Prices range from about £159 upwards, but the most important things Find out what you want to do with the device Keep it simple Explore what is available before making a choice Thank you both for your contributions and if you want to find out more information, you can do so by getting in touch with us via our helpline.

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