There is something I can contribute to our 25th anniversary hoopla—a rundown of the best and worst Apple commercials of the Mac era. I’m uniquely qualified for this task—I watch quite a bit of television. (After all, something has to fill the empty hours when I’m not playing Civilization II or Championship Manager.)
The problem, of course, when drawing up a list of the best Apple TV spots of all time is that your toughest decision has already been made for you. You have to put Apple’s “1984” ad, which introduced the Mac 25 years ago, in the top slot.
Apple TV commercials are so visually stunning they make the company's advancements in assistive technology all the more impressive. Products such as the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch and are becoming increasingly accessible to blind and visually impaired users through screen-access technology (Voiceover) and a magnification program (Zoom) built into the iOS operating system and a growing number of accessible apps.
Here are some mobile apps designed specifically to help the blind and visually impaired.
1. LookTel Money Reader
Apple iTunes
The LookTel Money Reader ($1.99) recognizes US currency in standard denominations ($1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills) enabling blind and visually impaired people to quickly identify and count bills. Point the iPhone camera at any US bill and LookTel's object recognition technology via Voiceover tells users the denomination in real time. Best to organize bills before hitting the nightclub; the app doesn't work as well in low light.
2. SayText
Apple iTunes Store
SayText (free), developed by Norfello Oy, scans text within any image, such as a medical form or restaurant menu, and reads it aloud. Center the document under the iPhone camera and double-tap the "Take Picture" button. Then raise it slowly: a beep indicates that the entire document is in the phone's frame. The app's Optical Character Recognition utility then scans the text. Tap the screen for status updates. Once scanned, swipe right on the screen to hear the document.
Apple iTunes
3. Color Identifier
GreenGar Studios' Color Identifier ($1.99) uses the iPhone camera to identify and speak color names aloud. Shades identified are specific to the point of annoyance (Paris Daisy, Moon Mist) for some users. The company makes a free app called Color ID Free that sticks to basic colors. Blind people will never wear mix-matched socks or the wrong shirt again. An interesting offshoot is using the app to distinguish shades of sky, enabling one to experience sunsets or gauge possible weather changes.
4. TalkingTag LV
Apple iTunes
TalkingTag™ LV ($9.99) from Talking Tag enables blind people to label everyday items with special coded stickers. Users scan each sticker with the iPhone camera and record and replay via Voiceover up to a 1-minute audio message identifying what's being labeled. The app is ideal for organizing a DVD collection, locating boxes during a move, or picking the right jelly jar from the refrigerator. Stickers can be erased and recorded over.
5. The Talking Calculator
Adam Crosser
This easy-to-read app calculator ($0.99) speaks button names, numbers, and answers aloud through a customizable built-in directory that lets users record their own voice. Button names are spoken as your finger moves over the screen. Double tapping activates enters buttons. The calculator also has a high-contrast display mode to enhance visibility. Developer Adam Crosser also makes the Talking Scientific Calculator app.
6. iBlink Radio
Apple iTunes
Serotek Corporation's iBlink Radio was the first application promoting the digital lifestyle among the visually impaired, providing access to community web radio stations with formats spanning every genre. The iBlink network also offers radio reading services (USA Today, the New York Times, among hundreds), and podcasts covering assistive technology, independent living, travel, and more. The app's latest player toolbars simplifies navigation
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