Qualcomm is expanding the usability of smartphone to visually-impaired consumers. There are nearly 300 million of visually-impaired individuals, which represent a relatively untapped market. Today, smartphones designed for visually-impaired people typically have large buttons, special barcode scanners, color readers, audiobook readers and visual commands. Qualcomm’s Project RAY offers better integration between common smartphone technologies and enhanced eye-free interaction.
User can touch the display at any position and the phone will use it as a starting point for enabling various activities. User navigation can be used with specific simple finger movements. User feedback is provided by voice prompts and integrated vibration capabilities. Visually-impaired typically rely on audio-enabled magazines and periodicals to access latest information. The smartphone adapts to usage patterns and create unique user preference. The UI still delivers a rich set of features, with direct access to social media services, object recognition, text messaging, voice calls and others.
