What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

Posted by tonyg on 7/26/2002 at 2:10 PM

I work with a small cell phone company in Montana and I am having a difficult time finding anyone (locally) who knows of a cell phone model that would best suite the needs of a visually impaired individual. The manufacturers don't seem to be of much help as well as local services. We are a 1900MHz CDMA carrier and any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

There are currently 30 replies

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

The "Talking Phone" discussion

http://www.afb.org/message_board_replies.asp?topic...

might offer some ideas in terms of companies you may want to research for a cell phone. (Please note that this is not an endorsement of any products mentioned.)

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

did you find a CELL phone for the visually impaired? someone has recently advertised one, but we did not expent to need it until next summer. we need it now. any idea on where to find one would be appreciated.

Thanks KEZ 7:55am CDT

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

Try the Sprint cell phones. Many of theirs are voice activated. YOu say "call Susan at home" and it dials that number for you. Of course you program it, but you program it by voice too. I think it is $5/month extra for the voice dialing, but it is worth it.

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

Just wondering if anyone knows of a cell phone that does text-to-speech? The talking phones article listed in a prior reply mentions a panasonic telephone, but I was more interested in a cell phone that has text-to-speech capacity, to know who or what number is calling.
thanks
francisco

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

I am looking for a phone that has large easy to read buttons. Verizon (in KY) offers free voice dialing on audiovox but the buttons are too small.

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

I too am looking for a cell phone for a friend who suffers is visually impaired. As there are many individuals who suffer with this problem there has to be some company who will address this problem. If anyone knows of such a product please advise.

Thank you.

Leigh

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

Hi there. Has anyone had any luck finding a cell phone for visually impaired? I'm looking for one for my dad who is eighty-five years old and nearly blind. I read that some Sprint phones might work. The Panasonic cell phone sounds interesting also. Could someone please email me the details at cscott@capousd.org? Thank you.

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

I have found a magnifier that fits over most cell phones. My sister is visually impaired and we have been looking for several options so that she has less trouble with cell phones and her computer screens. The cost for the magifier is aproximately 15.00 I hope that this helps you should be able to acquire the magifier from a local cell phone company

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

I'd suggest the phone with the least number of buttons and the fewest features; this makes the phone much easier to deal with for someone with limited or no vision. It will not be practical to use some features, such as the Caller ID display. I'm a rehab. engineer; I've modified a cell phone keypad w/tactile marks so that someone can tell buttons apart by feel. This made a Nokia 5600 phone much more useful to the individual...

Pop Up Magnifier for cell phones @ www.b1p.info

A new product @ www.b1p.info The Pop Up Magnifier for cell phones endorsed by CES and CTIA

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

I find the Lg 4650 to be very good for the blind, it auto dials by voice, checks your voice mail, talks anounce calls as they come in and also tells you by voice your dropped calls. there is also a dot on the 5 key

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

Check out: www.independentliving.com

They have a catalogue online, and one you can order through the mail. I believe that they do have a cell phone of some sort in their line of products.

** Note **

There are thousands of us out here in cyberland that are visually handicapped. We need someone to help us make the manufactures aware, that there is a ton of money to be made by making products for the visually impaired and the blind!

The two hardest colors to work through are gray and black, and "everything" these days are those two colors: cll phone key pads - computer keyboards - remote controls - calculators, etc., on and on.

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

hi
I’m in the UK and use a 6680 and have got a software called talks put on it. Having the software will allow you to check who is calling, send and receive text messages, check your miss calls, etc

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

The Phone Monocle is very useful on cell phones, home phones Ipods, and We sell many for Insulin pumps,. The Phone Monocle was just featured in Diabetes Health magazine as the Pump Monocle. It can magnify from 2-4 times depending on the phone or insulin pump.
Available in 7 colors to blend in to all electronic devices.
The Company is Magnifics Inc. 818-248-2228 or www thephonemonocle.com

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

I am purchasing these for my elderly parents...big easy to read buttons!

check out: JITTERBUG.COM

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

hi, i'm living in Malaysia. most of the blind here use nokia cellphone as it is the most compatible model with 'talks'. I have been using this software for 3 years and it works superb! so, why not give it a try! as 'talks' keeps abreast with the latest of nokia model, so, there's no worries of buying the latest model. please visit http://www.scansoft.com for more infomation about this special software.

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

Have you checked out AccessWorld http://www.afb.org/aw/main.asp? AccessWorld is AFB's free online technology magazine that conducts product testing and reviews the latest available technologies. They keep on top of the newest products available, including cell phones. There are numerous articles about accessible cell phones, simply go to "Search AccessWorld", type in "cell phones" and it will give you all available articles.

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

My relative has cingular service and I was wondering what is the option for a phone that has voice abilities.

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

I would definitely not recommend Jitterbug phones by Great Call Inc. for any cell phone user. Having worked for the company myself, I have seen employees bill customers for calls that they never made. They literally copy and pasted previous phone numbers dialed and created new entries with different call times and minutes.The whole organization is corrupt from the ground floor up to the top. In many cases, you will be without service with Jitterbug for days up to weeks. They don't have enough employees to adequately handle their client base and their computer systems are extremely out of date. Their record of customer service is horrible. The management simply does not care about its customers nor employees. You'd be better off picking out a phone with Verizon or At & T. I know they are coming out with similar phones to the Jitterbug.

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

Magnifics Inc. Has two different styles of cell phone, and Home phone Magnifiers. You can see them at www.thephonemonocle.com. We can get you the best one suited for your style phone.
magnificsinc@aol.com.

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

look into Nokia 2260 you may like it

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

My daughter is blind, with limited use of left hand. The layout of the key's is crucial. Look for a key pad that is raised and the numbers are straight across, much like the keypad of a telephone; look for different size buttons for talk and stop; also need speaker phone and digital dial (will automatically dial numbers from directory). User can assign different ring tones for certain people. Current one she is using is Motorola E815.

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

I am not visually impared but it seems like I can't have a cell phone these days without gadgets!

I was looking at Japanese cell phones and other companies in the UK and they have got it going on!

try EMPORIA they may be able to further direct you to a similar U.S based company. These phones are awesome its a device with almost quarter by quarter inch number key pads and the phones simply allow SMS and voice. Brilliant! http://www.emporialifeplus.com/

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

Jitterbug was okay, but pricey. Some other phones look to have bigger keypad and numbers but receive poor ratings. Seems that someone would have come up with a large, simple, lightweight cellphone that speaks when you press numbers by now. Considering the blind and the growing elderly population, it is hard to believe that although some are trying, none seem to meet the growing need

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

Try Verizon's Haven. I am using it and I am very happy with it.

http://www.verizonwireless.com

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

I know this is an old thread, but you may want to look at FotoDialer. It allows people to dial numbers by pressing a button next to the 2x3 inch photo of whomever they wish to call. There are six pages with four photos per page making 24 numbers available. FotoDialer connects into an analog telephone so you don't have to buy a new phone.
Good luck!
http://www.FotoDialer.com

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

the Sanyo Vero seems to be a great phone. not fancy but big screen big buttons and can text or talk.

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

I am Visually Impaired and i have found the best cell phone for the Visually Impaired and you even get a aarp discount it is called duro phone by consumer cellular and there,s no contract and you can get a free phone but the duro phone is what you want. you can text too. Check it out at consumercellular.com

Re:What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

I am vision impaired. I am still searching for the "right" cell phone to suit my needs so I can't advice on a cell phone. However, I did come across an organization in the US that assists persons with vision loss in recieving free cells, if you qualify, and I thought it might benefit someone here. The link is http://www.etoengineering.com/freecellphones.htm Good luck all.

Re: What is the best cell phone for the visually impaired?

the iphone with voice over and siri