AbilityNet Factsheet – October 2018

AbilityNet’s Top 10 Accessible AppsSelected by Robin Christopherson, Head of Digital Inclusion, AbilityNet

This list shows the range of apps that may be of use to disabled people. Some are specially designed to meet their specific needs, whilst others are mainstream apps with features that are of value to people with specific impairments. Some apps have the potential to replace expensive single function technologies used by disabled people.

Table of Contents1. WAZE SOCIAL GPS, IOS AND ANDROID, FREE.................................................................2

2. SKYPE, IOS, ANDROID, FREE...........................................................................................2

3. WHATSAPP, IOS AND ANDROID, FREE...........................................................................2

4. SIRI, FREE WITH IPHONE 4S AND ABOVE........................................................................2

5. SEEING AI, IOS, FREE......................................................................................................2

6. BE MY EYES, IOS AND ANDROID, FREE...........................................................................3

7. SOUNDCAPE, IOS, FREE.................................................................................................3

8. IVOICE TRANSLATOR, IOS, 69P.......................................................................................3

9. MONEYREADER, IOS, ANDROID, £4.99...........................................................................3

10. PROLOQUO2GO, IOS, £129........................................................................................4

ABOUT ABILITYNET................................................................................................................4COPYRIGHT INFORMATION..............................................................................................................4

AbilityNet Factsheet: AbilityNet’s Top 10 Accessible AppsOctober 2018 www.abilitynet.org.uk/factsheets

Page 1 of 4

1. WAZE Social GPS, iOS and Android, FreeWaze is simply the best turn-by-turn satnav app for both iOS and Android and has a strong social component – so other Waze users crawling in traffic will automatically route around a problem. It's mostly very accessible (some buttons are unlabeled for blind VoiceOver users in the current version).

If it’s a navigation app for blind users you’re after, then BlindSquare (around £14.99) has many more features to help someone on foot or public transport – including the ability to drop virtual markers so you can find the same spot in a wide open space or the doors to a large building, say, in future.

2. Skype, iOS, Android, freePeople with a hearing impairment can use the video calling facility to sign to each other instead of the slower more traditional exchanging of texts. Works on wifi and mobile.

3. WhatsApp, iOS and Android, FreeNice and accessible, WhatsApp has become the cross-platform messaging app of choice for hundreds of millions worldwide. You can also send pictures and other files and make audio and video calls.

4. Siri, free with iPhone 4S and aboveIt’s far from foolproof but having Siri built into the phone makes this a great choice for all sorts of users. And because it plays nicely with other built in apps it can work out what you mean when you mention people, places, dates and so on.

5. Seeing AI, iOS, FreeThis is an award-winning free app from Microsoft that allows users with a vision impairment or learning disability to use their phone’s camera and some artificial intelligence to recognise objects, people, products, printed text and even handwriting.

AbilityNet Factsheet: AbilityNet’s Top 10 Accessible AppsOctober 2018 www.abilitynet.org.uk/factsheets

Page 2 of 4

6. Be My Eyes, iOS and Android, FreeThis free app is having a huge impact on the visually impaired and learning disabled community. It simply connects someone who needs to borrow someone eyes for a task with colunteers around the world. Simple, elegant and life-changing. It also includes an option to connect you directly to Microsoft’s Disability Answer Desk if you need some more specialized tech support.

7. Soundcape, iOS, FreeAnother free and very useful app from Microsoft for visually impaired iPhone users. Pop in your earbuds and be informed of streets, intersections, parks, buildings and other points of interest (POIs) in 3D sound - giving you an aural map of your surroundings.

8. iVoice Translator, iOS, 69pAt 69p iVoice is a snip as one of the new generation of real time translators. Speak in one of 25 languages and it translates into one of 63. Save favourite phrases to speak out as required so useful for users with a speech impairment.

Of course we have to mention the free Google Translate app here – it too allows you to instantly translate from and into dozens of languages, plus it also has a feature where you use the camera to simply point it at a document (menu, sign or leaflet etc) and the text magically changes to your desired language.

This free app is having a huge impact on the visually impaired and learning disabled community. It simply connects someone who needs to borrow someone eyes for a task with volunteers around the world. Simple, elegant and life-changing. It also includes an option to connect you directly to Microsoft’s Disability Answer Desk if you need some more specialized tech support.

9. MoneyReader, iOS, Android, £4.99Place money in front of the camera and it tells you the amount. Perfect for the visually impaired when paying for things. Pricey but could save you handing over the wrong money – and that wouldn’t be good. Note: Seeing AI also has a money reading mode but this is generally considered quicker and more reliable.

AbilityNet Factsheet: AbilityNet’s Top 10 Accessible AppsOctober 2018 www.abilitynet.org.uk/factsheets

Page 3 of 4

10. Proloquo2Go, iOS, £129Although pricey this full-featured communication solution for people who have difficulty speaking would cost upwards of £6,000 as a standalone device. Natural sounding Text to Speech voices, high res library of over 14,000 symbols and advanced word prediction.

About AbilityNetAbilityNet is the national charity that supports people with any disability, of any age. Our specialist services help disabled people to use assistive technology and the internet to improve their lives, whether at work, at home or in education. We offer:

free advice and information accessibility services DSA/student assessments workplace assessments consultancy services IT help at home IT volunteers.

Support us

Visit www.abilitynet.org.uk/donate to learn how you can support our work.

Contact us

Telephone 0800 269 545 Email enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk Web: www.abilitynet.org.uk

We are always keen to help share knowledge about accessibility and assistive technology. If you have any questions about how you may use the contents of this factsheet, please contact us at AbilityNet and we will do all we can to help.

Copyright information

This factsheet is licensed by AbilityNet under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

View a copy of this license at creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

AbilityNet Factsheet: AbilityNet’s Top 10 Accessible AppsOctober 2018 www.abilitynet.org.uk/factsheets

Page 4 of 4