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Published on 2024-10-08
It’s no longer necessary to see in order to read on a computer. Technology has developed various applications in recent years that make this task easier. This is the case with screen readers, which can detect written text and translate it into a virtual voice. This function is especially useful for people with some kind of visual impairment.
Tools like TalkBack or VoiceOver are screen readers that allow visually impaired people to interact with a device through a series of gestures.
These tools are very powerful for visually impaired people, although they cannot follow voice commands to execute actions with other devices, requiring physical interaction instead.
Depending on the device, these applications need to be configured in different ways, and people living with visual impairment have the option to set up one of the screen readers, either TalkBack or VoiceOver, to access the settings of these assistants more easily.
When using a device for the first time, it is common that during the initial setup screen, one of the first options to appear is to activate TalkBack or VoiceOver. These tools help guide the user to set up one of these virtual assistants.
If these options were disabled during the initial device setup and need to be enabled later, it is necessary to follow a series of steps to properly use these screen readers.
In the case of TalkBack, for Android devices, the default activation option is to press both volume buttons for three seconds. If this option is disabled, go to Settings, select Accessibility, and enable TalkBack. If Google Assistant is already activated, just say “Hey Google, activate TalkBack.”
In the case of VoiceOver, for Apple devices like the iPhone, the default option is to press the side button or the home button three times. If this option is disabled, go to Settings, Accessibility, and enable VoiceOver. If Siri is activated, just say “Siri, activate VoiceOver.”
Once the screen reader is activated, you can navigate the device using only gestures, like tapping the device a certain number of times with a specific number of fingers.
VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS
These screen readers should not be confused with virtual assistants like Alexa or Siri, which also allow a range of actions to be executed via voice commands.
According to a study on the use habits of these virtual assistants conducted by ONCE, one of the biggest difficulties visually impaired people face is performing the initial setup of these tools.
There are also other types of applications that, in combination with a virtual assistant, can offer many possibilities when interacting with all kinds of files. This is the case of Be My Eyes, a tool aimed at visually impaired people that uses artificial intelligence and a network of volunteers to describe images from photographs.
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