Smart Technology

The Lenovo Smart Device has a large smooth screen on the front and an inbuilt Google assistant with blindness and low vision accessibility features such as magnification software and a basic screen reader. These devices can assist you to use Google assistant to make a phone or video call, schedule an appointment on a calendar to sync with a smartphone, or access recipes that can be read to you by the Google assistant. You can use virtual assistant devices by talking to them and giving them commands with a command phrase, which is “Hey Google”. People can use the virtual assistant to ask things like: “Hey Google, what time is it?”, “Hey Google, what’s the weather like outside?”, or “Hey Google, tell me about Guide Dogs.”

Interaction: The Google Assistant is always ready to respond to your questions! You can try asking it something, so long as you start by saying “Hey Google”. Tip: you can ask the Google Assistant to find a banana bread recipe. Once Google has the results say “read recipe” or “what are the ingredients?” To finish say “Hey Google, stop.”

 

Description: An electronic refreshable Braille display is a hand-sized, rectangular device which is used to convey digital information from devices like computers and smart phones in a raised tactile Braille format. A refreshable Braille display has a single line of Braille “cells” that use pins that raise and lower to create Braille letters, numbers and punctuation that changes to match the information on the connected device. A refreshable Braille display can have from 14 to 80 cells of Braille and also has “Perkins Style” keys which can be used to type in Braille format.

Interaction: The Braille display on the Tech Bar has raised Braille that is displaying the text on the iPad screen. See if you can lightly run your finger across the Braille to feel it.