Along with the built-in features for accessibility in today's smartphones, there are many after-market products available that make
using mobile phones easier for people with cognitive difficulties, impairments or
disabilities.
These include devices that convert the
contents of a mobile phone screen into speech for users with limited sight, external
keyboards for users who have trouble typing on phones and products that can
display speech in text for users with hearing loss.
But just like an old printer might not work
with the latest laptop, for some of these products to work effectively their
software must be compatible with the software used to operate a mobile phone.
This is why phones with Application
Programming Interfaces (API), which allow accessibility software programs to communicate
with a mobile handset, is one of the features consumers can now search for in
the GARI database when choosing a new phone.
An example of how important this software
compatibility can be is with the use of Braille devices that give blind and
deafblind users access to mobile phone technology.
Special displays can be connected to a
mobile phone, which read a screen’s contents back to the user in Braille and by
connecting a Braille keyboard to a phone a user can control many of the phone’s
functions.
But unless a user’s phone has an API that can
be used to support the Braille keyboard and display, the devices won’t operate
correctly.
To search for a phone that supports
accessibility API’s use our online search tool or click on the 'find phones' link at the top of this page.
As always, before buying a phone you should
check its compatibility with the specific external hardware you want to use it
with and if possible test the phone to determine whether it will meet your
needs.
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