So far, I've resisted the pull of the Apple empire. While I've been a dedicated
Mac user for a couple of years now, I'm still clinging dearly to my old brick of a phone, and I did have a chuckle at the poor folk camped out in the rain in front of the apple store when the new iPhone came out.
But my birthday is coming up, and all I wish for is an iPad.
I know, I know. It's a toy - a big, heavy, expensive toy that you can't take in the bathtub. But have you seen some of the seriously cool achromatopsia-friendly Apps available for the iPad? Here are some I'm dying to use in daily life.
There are tons of GPS apps for the iPad and iPhone, but Ariadne is probably the most accessible for achromats. It features talking maps that rotate as you move, and if you're going to cross a street, your device vibrates to warn you. You can save locations in favorites and, best of all, use the device to read out stops on a bus or train route.
To use this app, point your camera at any object, and your device will speak the name of the color. This is pretty much the perfect app for people with achromatopsia. The color names are poetic and fun – Moon Mist, Paris Daisy – and you can toggle these with a simple color menu for when you just want to know the difference between red and brown.
If you're anything like me, you hate the idea of having to type notes on a tiny screen using a touch-screen keyboard. Dragon diction eliminates this issue by dictating what you say and storing it in your clipboard. It takes a little time to learn to use Dragon Diction effectively, but once you've got it sussed, you'll be pleased to say goodbye to those horrid touch-screen keyboards.
Talking Scientific Calculator, $6.49
This is a user-friendly, easy-to-read scientific calculator that will speak answers, buttons and formulas aloud. You can use one of the inbuilt voices or even record your own. Particularly important for achromats is the high-contrast setting, which makes this calculator much easier to read than any manual model.
For readers, the Kobo e-reader app allows you to increase the font of books and create a high contrast-reading screen (white letters on a black background). I still prefer reading on my Kobo eReader device, but this app is great for those who don't want an eInk screen. And the Kobo app gives you access to over a million free eBooks, so you won't be starved of reading material.
Frustrated that, once again, the takeaway shop has printed their menu on the wall behind the counter and you can't read it? Just hold up your iPad or iPhone, take a picture, and SayText will read aloud any text on the screen.
It's a big clock. It's a really big clock, and it's in high contrast. Perfect for people like me who can't read small clocks.
Are you using an iPad or iPhone? How do you find the accessibility? What are your favorite apps?