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Digital Planet: Blindness in the digital age

Factual: Science & Nature

Blindness in the digital age

05/01/2021 GMT

BBC World Service - Digital Planet, Blindness in the digital age

From smartphone apps to haptic echo-location technology, Digital Planet investigates how digital technologies are changing the lives of blind people worldwide.

Smartphone apps and other digital technologies have completely changed the lives of visually impaired and blind people around the world. This special programme on blindness and digital technology takes us through some of the tech responsible. 

Motivational speaker Fern Lulham narrates her trip to the shops with her guide-dog Nancy, talking us through the different apps that she uses to help her find her keys, navigate there, and even colour match her clothes. She joins us live. 

Presenter Gareth speaks with an Ophthalmologist in Delhi, India who is helping to train visually impaired people about how smartphone apps like ‘Be My Eyes’ can improve their independence and quality of life. We meet Brian Mwenda, the Kenyan inventor of the Fourth Eye and the Sixth Sense, two inexpensive, touch-based echo-location technologies that will help to give cheap and high-quality help with mobility for people with visual impairments around the world. 

(Image: Brian Mwiti Mwenda - Hope Tech Plus)                                         


Presenter: Gareth MitchellStudio Expert: Bill Thompson 

Producer: Rory Galloway

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