Assistive Technology (AT) has become increasingly popular for many people with disabilities over the past few decades. This specialized technology enables people with mobility, vision, hearing, language, and learning impairments, to access the world around them with greater ease and freedom. Assistive technology can range from a hearing aid or walker, to a smartphone and specialized software. With the increasing popularity of smart mobile devices and the vast amount of apps available, people with disabilities now have greater access to a wide range of assistive technology apps to help them in everyday life.
Types of Assistive Technology Apps
Assistive technology apps are divided into the following main categories:
- Communication apps: These apps aid users with communication and provide assistance with reading, writing, and speaking.
- Accessibility apps: These apps focus on navigation with GPS and mapping, as well as providing access to books, videos, and other media.
- Entertainment apps: Entertainment apps provide users with a variety of games and activities that can help improve cognitive skills and provide a distraction during a task.
- Medical apps: These apps provide remote access to medical professionals or offer on-the-go assistance with measuring blood pressure or other important health numbers.
Best Assistive Technology Apps
Now that you know some of the different types of assistive technology apps available, let us look at some of the best apps of 2019.
-
Proloquo2Go: For people with communication disorders, Proloquo2Go is an app that uses a voice synthesizer to create speech. The app has a large vocabulary of symbols and words to choose from, allowing the user to create entire sentences and express opinions.
-
Talkitt: Talkitt is an app designed to help people with speech impairments communicate by translating their unintelligible speech into understandable words and phrases. The app works by recognizing and translating the sound and rhythm of the user’s vocalizations.
-
Seeing AI: Seeing AI is an app from Microsoft that uses the device’s camera to describe what it sees and ears to provide a running commentary. It can identify and describe people, text, currency, and objects.
-
Naviguide: Developed for visually impaired persons, Naviguide is a navigation app that uses an audio guide to help users get to their destination. The app uses voice commands, a text-to-speech system, and a series of beeps to help users move around and make decisions.
-
Memory Book: Memory Book is an app designed to help people with autism and other related disorders improve their memory and recall. The app combines fun gaming with memory exercises, which encourages users to practice their memory every day in a fun and rewarding way.
-
Scanning Pens: These scanning pens are designed to help people with reading and writing disabilities. The pens scan text and convert it in to speech, allowing images to be read aloud.
-
Forabet: This app is designed to help children with dyslexia learn the alphabet and recognize letters. The app has a fun, engaging design that encourages children to learn and practice letter recognition.
Assistive technology apps have changed the way people with disabilities access and interact with the world around them. These apps provide users with greater freedom, ease of use, and access to the same resources as others. There are countless assistive technology apps available, so it’s important to research and find the best app for your needs.
