Shelly Palmer Radio Report – October 15, 2012

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One of the most inspiring uses of technology is giving people the ability to do things they couldn’t do otherwise. One such example is how the blind community has benefitted from several new gadgets and apps over the course of the past few months. An app called Braille Touch was developed earlier this year, which redefines the touchscreen keyboard into a system similar to guitar chords, allowing visually-impaired people to text up to 32 words per minute. Then, in July, a smartphone for the blind was launched, featuring a voice-assisted touchscreen and a bunch of apps that help people accomplish everyday activities, like catching a bus or reading printed text. Most recently, a new app was developed that helps identify and count dollar bills, using your smartphone’s camera. The denomination and amount is then read aloud in a Siri-like voice. With so many advancements occurring in such a short period of time, it’s exciting to imagine what the future may hold.

Author:

Shelly Palmer

Shelly Palmer is Fox 5 New York's On-air Tech Expert (WNYW-TV) and the host of Fox Television's monthly show Shelly Palmer Digital Living. He also hosts United Stations Radio Network's, Shelly Palmer Digital Living Daily, a daily syndicated radio report that features insightful commentary and a unique insiders take on the biggest stories in technology, media, and entertainment. He is Managing Director of Advanced Media Ventures Group, LLC an industry-leading advisory and business development firm and a member of the Executive Committee of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (the organization that bestows the coveted Emmy® Awards).