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Georgie: Smartphone for the blind, visually impaired

Specially designed smartphone for the visually impaired or partially sighted has been launched in the UK. The device, dubbed Georgie, has a lot many special features including voice-assisted touch screen and apps that will allow for easy completion of day to day tasks like catching a bus, reading printed text and pinpointing location.

Designed by a blind couple Roger and Margaret Wilson-Hinds and named after Mrs Wilson-Hind’s guide dog, the smartphone is powered by Android operating system and uses handsets like Samsung XCover and Galaxy Ace 2 notes BBC. The main reason for developing such a phone according to thEe couple was that they wanted to get the technology across to people with very little or no sight.

“It’s exactly the type of digital experience we want to make easily available to people with little or no sight,” said Roger. “It is also going to help solve everyday problems for blind people so they can be more confident about navigating the real world and become independent,” he added.

The main feature of the phone is that it relies almost completely upon the use of voice command. For notifications, the voice assistant within the phone is used to notify users such as when a bus is coming, help with directions, etc.

Georgie is priced at £299 (around $465) if someone wants to buy the handset loaded with the necessary software. But, for those with existing Android devices, they can also go for a downloadable version priced at £149 ($230) available on the Google Play store.

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