Qualcomm tests ‘Eye-Free’ mobile device for the blind

Qualcomm and Project Ray have collaborated to build an eye-free mobile device called the Ray, especially for the blind. The Ray integrates a standard Android smartphone built using
a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, which is tied to a special user interface for the visually impaired.
The UI works in conjunction with touch screen, haptics, text-to-speech and audio feedback to support basic phone calls, text messages, emails and social networking. When the user touches any position on the screen it becomes a starting point for selecting an activity. Then a few simple finger movements in different directions enable navigation. The phone’s built-in vibration capabilities and voice prompts provide user feedback and the UI learns to adapt its behavior based on users’ preferences and usage patterns.
Qualcomm says trials have begun for the Ray in Israel, where subscribers are using the device to access and download audiobooks, periodicals and magazines in the Central Library for the Blind, Visually Impaired and Handicapped over an advanced mobile broadband network rather than waiting for CDs over mail.