New Smartphone and Services for People who are Blind or have Low Vision

June 6, 2013 — Project Ray, a smartphone developer, and Odin Mobile, a cellphone services provider, announced the release of the first smartphone and accompanying services specifically designed for people who are blind or have low vision.  According to Project RAY, the phone, designed for eye-free operation, is affordable and offers built-in services such as “voice calls, email, messaging contact list services, calendar, GPS, advanced WEB remote assistance, voice recorder, panic and emergency services, color identification, pictures transcription and banknote recognition.” In addition, services provided by Odin Mobile include “voice, text and data, with customized eye-free setup and services.”  Boaz Zilberman, CEO of Project RAY, notes that the “RAY smartphone in collaboration with Odin Mobile’s full-cellular services for the blind and visually impaired will finally bring to this important community the same services available to the mainstream full-sighted community.”