Smartphones

AT&T’s Corporate Accessibility Technology Office and the Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center developed Wireless Independence Now (WIN) Workshops to teach people with disabilities how to use accessibility features installed on their phones and tablets.

September 2013 — Sprint has announced the release of Kyocera Kona, a new smartphone with multiple accessibility features.  The compact flip phone provides users with a tactile keyboard, verbal descriptions of on-screen menus, “high-contrast user interface options,” 911 shortcuts, and “verbal translation enabling internet browsing.” The phone is also being currently offered free of charge, following a $50 mail-in rebate.  Of the service, David Owens, Vice President of Product Development at Sprint, stated, “Sprint has always been dedicated to ensuring accessibility – whether it’s our award w

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, serv