Social Distancing App for Blind People
With the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, there is hope on the horizon regarding the pandemic. However, there is still a need to keep a safe distance between you and people that are not part of your inner circle. What's more, it can be challenging for blind and visually impaired people to know that they are at least 6-feet away from others, especially when waiting in line.A team of IBM scientists has created a social distancing app for blind people. LineChaser is a smartphone app that continuously reports the distance and direction to the last person in a queue so that the blind user can follow the person in front of them without issue. In trials, LineChaser successfully enabled visually impaired users to both find and follow a line.
SDCB offers vision rehabilitation programs and services for blind and visually impaired adults. Please contact us to learn more.
"New smartphone app to navigate blind people to stand in lines with distances"
Advancements in technology could one day make the white cane obsolete. In the past, we've covered stories about 
Ingrid Barnes, 27, from Sydney, Australia, uses social media to discuss her experience with blindness. Barnes has retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic condition that can cause severe vision loss. Her condition has left her with about 3.5 percent field of vision in well-lit environments.
An artist in Louisville, Kentucky, is creating art installations that highlight the history of the Clifton neighborhood. What's unique about the project by artist Liz Richter is that she is painting visually impaired-accessible artwork. Richter got inspiration for her art project from students at the Kentucky School for the Blind (KSB).
Everyone misplaces their belongings from time to time. Apple has created a product that could help all of us keep track of things that are easily misplaced. Devices known as AirTags are Bluetooth trackers. Using your iPhone, you can easily track down a lost item. What's more, Apple AirTags could help blind people. In conjunction with the iPhone's VoiceOver accessibility features, AirTags could help blind people keep track of important objects.
Sue Fraser’s eyesight has been diminishing for some time. Finally she found the courage to reach out for help for her visual impairment and she said it was the “best thing” she ever did. Last Christmas, Fraser received a call that she waited a long time for—two years. The phone call came from a dog trainer who told her that her visual impairment would be aided by a guide dog. She was getting “a little black lab called Rylie”.
The National Braille Press (NBP) has a long history of helping the blind community; it was founded in 1927 by Francis Lerardi, who lost his sight in 1898 at 12 years old. The NBP offers programs that empower the blind and visually impaired.
A bioelectronics company has received the HealthTech Award 2020 for its bionic vision Prima System. Pixium Vision SA’s bionic eye helps blind people see. The Prima System could help blind people lead more independent lives. It elicits functional artificial vision in the form of light perception replacing partially the natural central vision loss.
A group of teenagers from Phoenix, AZ, are the stars of a new documentary called "Ocean of Obstacles." The film is about the teens' remarkable sailing journey across the Caribbean Sea. What novel about the expedition is the fact that teenagers navigated without vision. The teenagers sailed 800 miles despite vision loss and learned a lot about themselves along the way. "Ocean of Obstacles" should be an inspiration for all, as it shows the genuinely remarkable feats blind people can accomplish.
Yesterday we shared a story about a new 
Guide dogs are instrumental for many visually impaired people in navigating their way through the world. White canes also help blind men and women detect obstacles that may present challenges. In the near future, a backpack could be the chosen means of navigating for people with diminished fields of vision. The MIRA Guidance System for the Blind, a smart backpack powered by Intel for visually impaired people, is being tested.
In Rhode Island, blind and visually impaired students protested in front of the House Chambers at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, calling for a permanent line item in the state budget to aid services for blind students. The rally came about after the Department of Education pulled a $684,000 federal grant from the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities.
Speed Of Sight is a charity which provides car racing track days for disabled people. This month, Drew Hanslow will be driving 200 laps of the Nürburgring circuit on the video game Gran Turismo Sport to raise money for Speed of Sight. The visually impaired man is racing for charity.
There are almost 253 million visually impaired people globally; 36 million of which are blind. Assistive technology is instrumental in the lives of people living with vision loss and blindness.
Menus4All is the most extensive collection of accessible restaurant menus. The blind and vision loss community can utilize Menus4All to access more than 50,000 restaurant menus from establishments in 12,000 cities across the country. The menus available on the website can be accessed using smartphones, screen readers, and Braille refreshable displays. All menus support common low vision settings.
Research published in JAMA Ophthalmology shows that anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections such as Eylea slowed the progression of diabetic retinopathy. However, the injections were not found to significantly slow vision loss more effectively than standard treatments. The results come from two years worth of data in a four-year study.
Did you know that women are at a higher risk for some eye diseases than men? The most recent research available shows that women have borne the more significant burden of visual impairment for the majority of conditions studied. April is Women’s Eye Health & Safety Month.
Most seeing people have seen a blind individual wearing sunglasses. Some may have wondered why someone would wear darkened lenses when they can’t see. Blind people wear sunglasses for a reason. Did you know that only 15 percent of people with eye disorders have total blindness? The rest have a limited amount of vision.
Intel is teaming up with Sankara Eye Foundation and Leben Care to release a comprehensive retinal risk assessment software that can spot retinal failure linked to diabetes much earlier, thus giving eye doctors a better chance of preventing blindness. Spotting the signs of eye problems earlier is the best shot at preventing blindness. The initial results are promising, of more than three thousand patients scanned, 742 were found to be at risk. AI is proving to play a huge role in the future of eye health.
A meta-analysis published in The Lancet Global Health shows that those with severe vision impairment had a higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to those with normal vision. The link between vision impairment, blindness, and mortality is pronounced. Those with even mild vision impairment had a 29% higher risk for mortality compared to people with normal vision.
Regular eye check-ups can help in preventing glaucoma-related blindness. With glaucoma, many individuals are unaware that they are losing their vision. Seeing an eye doctor every year can help you identify the problem early and prevent blindness. Neglecting the importance of eye health can have pernicious consequences.
Unmanaged type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to severe eye problems, causing diabetic vision loss and blindness. People with diabetes are at risk of diabetic macular edema (DME), the most common cause of blindness in people with diabetic retinopathy. Uncontrolled high blood sugar levels over a long period can damage the blood vessels of the retina.
Scientists have used stem cells to grow tear glands and successfully transplanted them into mice. This scientific advancement could help individuals with tear duct conditions such as Sjögren’s syndrome and dry-eye syndrome. Tear gland dysfunction leads to blindness in severe cases. Tears lubricate our eyes; when eyes are too dry, it can cause ulceration of the cornea.
Keep safety and energy savings on tap year-round with these simple tips for your home water heater.
If you have outstanding bills, and you are a CARE or FERA customer, you may be eligible for debt forgiveness through SDG&E’s Arrearage Management Payment (AMP) Plan. This plan offers qualified, current SDG&E customers financial assistance to help reduce past due account balances.
Spending more time at home this winter and spring means energy use could be higher and your monthly bill may be, too. SDG&E has some helpful tips on ways to save on your energy bill. We know that every little bit helps, especially now.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of billions of people across the globe. For more than a year, the healthcare system has been severely bogged down, making it extremely difficult for individuals to receive eye disease treatments. COVID-19 affects glaucoma patients especially, and they are at risk of vision loss and blindness without access to essential treatments. A new survey shows that many people have not received a professional diagnosis for the condition; those with a diagnosis have struggled to attend medical appointments. Karen Osborn, Chief Executive Officer of Glaucoma UK, said:
Technological advancements have led to the development of bionics for those with lost limbs or hearing impairments. In the near future, we could see the use of bionic corneas for curing blindness. There are several projects underway to develop a functional bionic cornea.
Retinal dystrophy affects as many as two million people globally. There are no effective treatments available for the common cause of blindness. However, genes therapy could one day be used to treat retinal dystrophy. Researchers discovered a new blindness gene, IFT122, in canines with retinal dystrophy, which could lead to novel treatments for dogs and people.
Last Sunday, Feb. 28, was World Rare Diseases Day. The company Novartis, the maker of ophthalmological treatments, released a video that seeks to show the general public a day in the life of a blind child. The animated film, “He who did not see the stars,” focuses on a rare ophthalmic disease, such as Hereditary retinal dystrophies (HRD). Novartis states:
Prevent Blindness – the oldest eye health and safety non-profit in America – designates March as Workplace Eye Wellness Month. In 2021, the organization would like to focus on digital eye strain.
One of the hallmarks of glaucoma is elevated levels of intraocular pressure (IOP) in the eye. It would be useful to have a non-invasive method of checking a person’s IOP and could lead to early detection of glaucoma, which could prevent blindness down the road. A group of researchers suggests that using smartphones to scan our eyes could help detect eye diseases. Using soundwaves generated for our smartphones could prevent glaucoma blindness. Dr. Khamis Essa, Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Group at the University of Birmingham, says:
Millions of Americans are affected by macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa and diabetes-related eye diseases. These conditions can lead to low vision and blindness. Those living with blinding eye diseases can experience loss of independence, and often have to rely on others for support. However, scientific advancements have led to the development of new technology for low vision and blindness. Some of those include OrCam MyEye Pro, WeWALK, eSIght, and IrisVision.
“Eyes on Capitol Hill,” an annual advocacy event, brings patients, caregivers, public health workers and medical professionals with their elected officials. The goal is to educate lawmakers about eye diseases that cause vision loss and blindness. The Prevent Blindness Eyes on Capitol Hill event will be held virtually this year, on Wednesday, Feb. 24, and Thursday, Feb. 25.
Some 11 million Americans are losing their vision due to macular degeneration. Unfortunately, the leading cause of blindness has no approved treatment options. However, thanks to new advancements in science, doctors are now treating blindness with cell transplant therapy.
All of our lives have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is safe to say that those impacted the most are people living with vision loss or other disabilities. Simply put, COVID-19 makes life harder for the visually impaired. The pandemic has forced sighted people to lend their hand to the visually impaired due to contraction fears. How do you know if you are six feet away from someone when you are blind?
Most Americans have seen people with white canes crossing the street. Some individuals have likely thought about the inherent dangers associated with blind people navigating intersections. While many crosswalks have what are known as Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) — beeps and chirps let people know when to cross — to assist people with visual impairments to understand when it is safe to cross the street, it can still be dangerous.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 90 percent of the global population lives in places where air quality levels exceed the limits set for pollutants that pose health complications.
Millions of Americans are living with vision loss and blindness. While losing one's vision can be a devastating blow, it does not mean you have to give up on your dreams. Even though Wayne Schwartz is blind, he does not let blindness prevent him from fulfilling his dream of operating a coffee house. He and his wife converted a vacant pizza parlor into a coffee shop. Never let blindness get you down is a maxim Schwartz lives by today.
Did you know that some 32.2 million adults in the United States have experienced some form of vision loss? It is vital to have regular eye exams to prevent losing your sight. What's more, it's helpful to know some of the most common causes of vision loss and what you can expect should you become afflicted. If you experience any vision changes, please make an appointment to see an eye doctor; being proactive can prevent vision loss.
While Macular degeneration is the number one cause of vision loss among older Americans, there are currently no FDA-approved medications to treat the condition. Ten million Americans are living with macular degeneration. Jayakrishna Ambati, a University of Virginia professor of ophthalmology, has discovered that HIV drugs may prevent vision loss.
Here are 25 of the best apps for the blind and visually impaired, updated for 2021.
Age-related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in older adults, and a new long-term study just revealed that air pollution could be linked to a heightened risk of AMD. If these findings are confirmed, they could pave the way for new treatment options.
There is no way of knowing how one would respond to losing vision, either temporarily or permanently. In either case, it is sure to be a frightening experience. However, some people take the hand they're dealt and dive headfirst into their passion. Singer, songwriter Brooke Moriber's sudden, temporary vision loss became a catalyst for music. She explains that her eye disease and subsequent treatments gave her a better understanding of who she was as an artist and what she wanted her music to be.
The global pandemic has changed our lives in many ways. We are all familiar with social distancing and spending copious amounts of time confined to our homes and apartments. In isolation, countless individuals spend more time than ever on their computers, tablets, and smartphones. Could it be that the COVID-19 pandemic causes vision loss in some people? What are the consequences of more than a year of increased screentime?
53-year-old Tony Duenas lost his sight due to sudden retinal detachment in 2009. The event left Duenas living with total blindness. Fortunately, he does not let total vision loss hold him back in life. In fact, he became an avid runner. Today he engages in running marathons with blindness thanks to the help of a "guide runner." His passion doesn't stop at marathons; Duenas also competes in triathlons.
All children face the challenge of learning everyday skills – such as dressing and undressing, personal hygiene, cooking, eating, and simply getting around – but kids with blindness or visual impairment face added obstacles, which can be overcome. They arguably have a bit of an advantage over visually impaired adults who may be relearning how to do things they knew how to do when fully sighted – since these kids are learning these things for the first time, rather than having to relearn them and possibly alter long-entrenched habits.
Just because you can’t see the same way as most other people doesn’t mean you can’t lead an independent, fulfilling life. Luckily, there are a number of things you can do, and technology can help, to create and maintain your independence. For example, make sure you enlarge anything you want to see. Learn to make the most efficient use of the eyesight you have. Reduce glare. Use your ears instead of your eyes.
Christina Swider, better known as Xtina Louise, is using her music platform to raise money for young people with blindness and low vision. The recent Butler University grad worked with children who are blind and visually impaired while attending college. Now, she is joining forces with Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS Indiana). Hopefully, her music will raise a lot of money for the organization.
