| Mobile phones have become an indispensable part of | | | | which facilitate the user to connect to five of their |
| our lives. Their invention is probably one of the most | | | | most crucial contacts. A type of talking phone |
| significant events in the communication sector. While | | | | designed specifically for the blind and partially sighted |
| mobile phones are witnessing innovations almost | | | | people has 'haptic' keypad buttons without the screen. |
| everyday, there is another phase in their fabrication | | | | This device has an in built speech facility with a |
| that focuses on people who are impaired in various | | | | computerized female voice guiding through all the |
| ways. The introduction of such devices is indeed a | | | | functions of the phone. It reads out call lists, received |
| milestone in the history of mobile phones. | | | | messages and even assists when browsing the |
| The contemporary trend in the design of mobile | | | | Internet. |
| phones addresses the requirement of a class of | | | | There are mobile phones with an eminent messaging |
| people who are disabled by few means. There has | | | | (SMS) function as a form of communication for those |
| already been a noteworthy melioration in this task. A | | | | who have difficulties in hearing. Brevity of texts that |
| couple of years back, there was no worthy attention | | | | makes conversations difficult and the need for sending |
| on this exclusive kind of phones. But today there are | | | | large number of messages that makes it expensive |
| many specially designed mobile phones catering to the | | | | are eliminated with alternative options. |
| needs of the differently abled. | | | | For those users who are partially deaf, there are |
| This gap in the market is being filled by small but | | | | many appurtenances available to assist in mobile |
| eminent firms as the task is as of now not undertaken | | | | hearing, such as induction loops, hooks etc. which can |
| by renowned manufacturers. These specially designed | | | | increase the volume and nullify noise interference. |
| mobile phones offer enormous benefits to the users, | | | | There are also mobile phones designed with tactile and |
| some of which are described here. | | | | perceptible function keys which control the menu |
| The design of handsets for users with visual | | | | navigation with nibs on the number 5 key facilitating |
| impairments is made with special considerations. These | | | | effortless location of the adjacent keys when dialling, |
| gadgets come with large fonts contributing for better | | | | thus cutting out the need to view the keypad. The |
| visibility of the content, highly spaced buttons that are | | | | power on/off keys are also singled out at a vantage |
| easy to single out the keys and a screen with superior | | | | point. The displays offer available options to select |
| contrast features for enhancing the display, thus | | | | backlighting, contrast and illumination for low vision. |
| delivering a perfect blend of solutions to the partially | | | | There are also several enhancements for mobile |
| sighted users who are interested in the text | | | | phones of the future like voice recognition systems. |
| messaging facility. This also caters to the expectations | | | | These systems are easily programmed to work on |
| of users aged above fifty with the reduction in the | | | | the command of the voice of the user enabling easy |
| inordinate number of useless features. A loud speaker | | | | dialing of phone numbers and selection of menu |
| tuned for better listening and powerful vibration are | | | | commands. There are umpteen number of mobile |
| add-ons to benefit the hearing impaired user. | | | | phones uniquely designed for the easy usage of |
| Another interesting model comes with no screen at all. | | | | people with various impairments from which they can |
| It features two call keys and five large number keys | | | | pick the handset of their choice and be benefited. |