Technological Advancements for the Visually Impaired and Impoverished Countries

Assistive technology is defined as hardware and software specifically designed for use by individuals with physical disabilities. 

    There are many types of technology that aid the visually impaired. These consist of Braille keyboards, large-print key overlays, and even screen reader technology.  Screen reader technology is a software system that enables the user to be read the text information from the computer screen. 

photo taken from: http://www.eschenbach.com/products-video-magnifiers.htm

In an effort to assist those people with disabilities, Google and other software  companies have begun creating smartphone  applications. 

One app available is called RAY, which is available on the googleplay app store for Android devices. RAY was developed for the use of those who are visually impaired, but still independent.  Some features of this app include voice operated messaging, eye free interface, audio books, and voice operated features. 

Another very interesting app is called Magnify. Magnify allows the user to transform their smartphone into a magnifying glass via the camera. This app gives you the ability to zoom in on your selected target or take a negative image to better read text that could be too small. 

Classic text to speech engine is another Android app easing the use of smartphones for those with an impaired sense of vision. In a number of different languages, classic text to speech allows the user to listen to their favorite e-books, navigation, and text messages without having to look at the phone. 

My favorite app that I have researched was the RAY app. I think all the features of the app are really cool and I'm very interested in the eye free interface. I feel this is a great app and I can't wait to see what kind of apps will come out as smartphones become smarter.

 

The One Laptop Per Child project’s goal is to provide children in impoverished countries access to a rugged, low cost, low power laptop in order to increase education and attempt to bridge the digital divide. photo taken from: One.laptop.org 

Another initiative that I have found is called NT Mojo. NT Mojo offers Indigenous people, located in secluded areas of Australia, access to an iPhone kit. The iPhone kit is equipped with an iPhone 4, a mount for the camera, a multi directional microphone, and a small rechargeable LED light. Indigenous or Aboriginals are often suppressed and are discriminated against. The goal of this organization is not only to increase education of the Indigenous people, but to also give them a voice within the mainstream Australian community.   Another initiative,brought about by the same company, was introduced in China called Ningbo Mojo.  Ningbo Mojo has the same goal and offers many people within the country to become mobile journalists so they can tell the stories of their people. 

An up and coming innovation is solar businesses and appliances. Bennu Solar, is a Hong Kong based company that provides a supply chain to companies based in Africa. Some solar appliances offered by this company are fans, televisions, refrigerators, solar water pumps, and even solar internet and wifi. This is very interesting and can be life changing and bringing in new technologies to the impoverished people in Africa. It can bring fresher foods, cleaner water and access to education remotely. 

I am thoroughly impressed with the direction of new technological advances. Producing this type of technology is increasing the education and bringing awareness to those less fortunate. This will allow change for the better within these communities. I hope we can see more technology so we can bridge the global divide. 

http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/e-waste-used-to-create-giant-installation-in-australia

With all of the technological advancements in todays society, there lies a big problem known as e-waste.  According to the EPA, there is an estimated 2.5 million tons of e-waste generated each year and only 25% of that is recycled.  Not only does e-waste consist of paper-based trash, it is also comprised of electronic hardware, such as used ink and toner cartridges, broken or old computers, CDs, DVDs and even out of date mobile devices. 

Many organizations and "green" companies have begun to put in regimens to diminish the amount of waste generated. Obviously, there are methods such as recycling used batteries and old electrical devices, but what else can we do to promote sustainability and take responsibility for our waste? Instead of opting to buy software, there is now an option to directly download it to your pc. There are also many large companies such as, HP, Sony, and Dell that allow you to trade in your pc towards the purchase of new devices. This is a great option because not only does the environment benefit, you have an incentive to go "green" as well! An organization known as The Green Grid, is motivated in helping call centers and businesses advance to more energy efficient methods. 

As you can see there are many companies beginning to reduce the amount of e-waste generated. There are also many options for you as a consumer to reduce your own e-waste. Next time you think about buying that new iPhone, think about a recycling program or trade in service. Your old computers or phones can also be donated to help support victims of domestic abuse and setup programs for these survivors.  All it takes is one step at a time to bring us closer in our goals of sustainability. 

Citations:

 Morley, D. (2015). Health, Access, and the Environment. In Understanding computers in a changing society (4th ed., pp. 276-284). Boston, MA: Course Technology, Cengage Learning.

RAY App for Visually Impaired - Android Apps on Google Play. (2015, November 5). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ray.manager&hl=en 

 Magnify - Android Apps on Google Play. (2011, December 10). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appdlab.magnify

 Classic Text To Speech Engine - Android Apps on Google Play. (2012, September 28). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.svox.classic 

 Avila, E. (2012, January 26). Closing the Gap in Indigenous Australia with Mobile Journalism. Retrieved November 16, 2015, from https://rising.globalvoices.org/blog/2012/01/26/closing-the-gap-in-indigenous-australia-with-mobile-journalism/

 Burum, I. (2012, April 20). Burum Media | NT Mojo. Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://burummedia.com.au/nt-mojo/ 

 Ariel, Y. (2015). About | Bennu Solar. Retrieved November 28, 2015, from http://bennu-solar.com/about/#.VlPfj4TIkVs 

 What You Can Do. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://www.microsoft.com/environment/what-you-can-do/what-you-can-do.aspx 

 The Green Grid | Carbon, Water and Energy Efficiency Metrics, Measurements and Trends for Data Center Planning. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://www.thegreengrid.org 

Morley, D. (2015). Health, Access, and the Environment. In Understanding Computers in a Changing Society (4th ed., pp. 282-284). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. 

Eye of the Storm: A Class Divided.

             The Eye of the Storm: A class divided 

The PBS program, A Class Divided is about an experiment that Jane Elliott taught her third grade class about discrimination. Through this study the children were divided into groups based on eye color, where the blue eyes were superior and the brown eyes were not. Mrs. Elliott used her power as an authority figure to ingrain the children with stereotypes and the children acted based on those false beliefs. This led to anger, heartache, and even low test scores. 

Definitions from the text: Diversity Consciousness: Opening our Minds to People, Cultures, and Opportunities. 

Selective perception is focusing on the things that support our thinking and ignore information that refutes it 

Ethnocentrism is the assumption that our way of thinking and acting is naturally superior to any other.

Stereotype vulnerability is the danger of not performing up to out ability because of our anxieties and fears about perpetuating a stereotype.

Prejudice is an irrational and inflexible opinion formed on the basis of limited and insufficient knowledge

Discrimination is defined as the denial of equal rights and opportunities to individuals and groups. 

Power refers to the ability to influence others and bring about change. 

A few questions to answer:

1. What did you like most about the program?    

          Overall, I think this is a great program and a wonderful lesson to teach children about discrimination. The kids learned a powerful lesson about how preconceptions about people do not define who they are as a person. I believe teaching kids at a young age that the effects of discrimination are very hurtful and oppress that particular group. Once the students and teacher had a reunion 14 years later, you learn that this lesson still holds strong for these people and are teaching their kids the lessons they learned. 

2. What did you not like about the program?

There wasn’t very much that I did not like about the program.  Although, it was heartbreaking to see kids fighting and being nasty it was a tough but necessary lesson to learn.  One thing that stuck in my mind was when the adults were being put through this scenario, they were immediately standoffish and irritable. I didn’t think that adults were acting in a mature matter, but I’m not sure I would either after being spoken to that way. 

3. Were you surprised at how the kids with blue eyes treated the kids with brown eyes? Why or why not?

I was very surprised. Once the kids were given the stereotypes of how brown eyed people behaved and how they were to be treated they immediately became nasty.  This was startling because they were all friends and within a matter of minutes they were against each other.  The kids taunted each other and called each other “brown eyes” in an ignorant fashion. After a young boy was called “brown eyes” by his former friend, he got so angry and hurt that he punched the other child in the stomach. The amount of anger and hatred the kids felt by being pushed out of their circle was insurmountable. Children were crying on the playground, were being belittled based on the stereotypes forced upon their group. The blue eyed kids definitely exhibited ethnocentrism. I recall a moment when Mrs. Elliott lost her yard stick, you could hear a child saying “why don't you keep it on your desk, and you can use it when the brown eyed people get out of control.”  A little boy said he felt like a king when it was his eye colors superiority day.  The kids experienced stereotype vulnerability, when the blue eyes were the “better color” their test scores were higher and the rate at which they completed their work was faster.  In contrast, the brown eyed children’s scores were much lower, they weren't confident and they completed their work at a much slower pace. 

4. What scene/s do you think you will remember a month from now? Why?

I feel the scene I will remember the most is when the kids are finally finished the experiment and are allowed to remove the collars dividing them into non superior and superior groups.  When they took them off, Mrs. Elliott asked what they would like to do with them, they immediately shouted “throw them away!” and they all rushed to the trash can.  After the kids throw them away you can see a little boy trying to bite and destroy his collar.  I feel like this moment was very emotional and it made me happy to see that the kids felt good once the barriers were broken down.  

Another scene that will stick in my mind is when Mrs. Elliott attempts to teach this lesson to adults in a correctional facility.  The blue eyed adults were immediately combative and annoyed at how little space or how little chairs they had while waiting for the program to begin.  They were then belittled and looked very uncomfortable when they were singled out and the rest of the class was staring at them and judging their behavior.  Having felt insulted the blue eyed adults eventually felt that they had no power and they weren't listened to and didn't have a voice in the room.  Blue eyed adults also didn't support one another, while one was being bullied the rest sat back and staying out of the situation so they weren't targeted either.  This had a strong message we all as people need to stand up for each other just to avoid being in the situation.  We cannot judge people based on the color of their skin, but by their character.  How you look as a person does not define you. I feel this video will stick with me for a long time and I always tell my children, treat others how you want to be treated. 

I wish this would be taught through the country, more people need to know what oppression feels like, so we can put a stop to it.  Children are our future, we need to teach them about racism, discrimination, and prejudice as early as we can.  Through socialization children mimic our behavior and base their opinions off of ours. This has definitely solidified my consciousness of discrimination and drives me to better our community. Lets step outside of ourselves, and change for the better. 

Works Cited:

A Class Divided. (1968). Retrieved October 28, 2015, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/divided/etc/view.html

Bucher, R. (2015). Developing Diversity Consciousness Ch. 4. In Diversity consciousness: Opening our minds to people, cultures, and opportunities (Fourth ed., p. 95). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson.

A little test page and a computer funny :D