Mobile for the 'blind'



The first mobile phone designed specifically for blind and partially sighted people has gone on show in the UK.

Spanish company, Owasys - pronounced oasis - has developed the phone.
It has no visual display at all but uses a speech synthesiser to read everything that would normally appear on the screen.

The phone is on display at the Royal National Institute of the Blind's Techshare exhibition in Birmingham and goes on sale in Spain next week.

As well as giving audio feedback from button presses, the 22C can send and receive text messages and will speak the name or number of incoming callers.

The mobile will retail at around £250.

The company - formed by ex-employees of Ericsson - consulted blind and partially sighted users throughout the development phase.

A number of people just want a simple device that's easy to use and friendly.