Blind Bargains

#CSUN15 Audio: Custom Accessible Phones From Claria for Blind and Low Vision users


In this interview, we speak with Marie Tranbahuy, Managing Director for the UK branch of Claria. Marie demonstrates a Nexus 5 phone modified with both a hardware overlay and customized software including basic functionality such as phone and email applications, as well as blindness-specific applications like GPS and a DAISY reader. A version is available for both blind and low vision users, and you can learn more from the Claria website, or from their U.S. distributor Odin Mobile.

Find all our conference coverage on our audio page, and don't forget to subscribe to our new weekly podcast for news and features about technology and beyond. Blind Bargains audio coverage of CSUN 2015 is generously sponsored by the American Foundation for the Blind. Do you enjoy our Blind Bargains Audio? You can help us out by taking this very short survey.

Transcript

We strive to provide an accurate transcription, though errors may occur.

Hide transcript
Transcribed by Kayde Rieken

Welcome to BlindBargains.com coverage of CSUN 2015 — the biggest names, provocative interviews, and wall-to-wall exhibit hall coverage — brought to you by the American Foundation for the Blind.

VisionAware.org is a free, easy-to-use website for adults with vision problems. If you're having trouble seeing and don't know where to turn for answers, VisionAware provides you with expert solutions and advice. Learn about your eye condition. Get practical advice for working with vision loss. Discover how to keep doing all the things you love to do. Find help, hope, and connection at VisionAware.org.

Now, here's J.J. Meddaugh.

J.J. Meddaugh: We're here at CSUN 2015 with Marie Tranbahuy. She is Managing Director for a company called Claria. Claria has some mobile phones which are now appearing here in the United States. So Marie, welcome to Blind Bargains.

Marie Tranbahuy: Thank you.

JM: Why don't you describe — we have a phone here that's an — a modified Android, I guess; right?

MT: Yes, exactly. So we modified the operating system and the user interface of the phone to make it really easy and accessible for blind users.

JM: Which phone — it's a Nexus, I believe; correct? Right?

MT: Yes. The one you hold is a Nexus 5.

JM: Okay. So tell us — what did you do to the Nexus 5 to modify — to — to simplify the interface?

MT: So first of all, we put a case — an overlay on the phone to the points of reference, like the keys of the keypad, to make it as easy to use as a mobile phone with buttons.

JM: The overlay, to kind of describe it — it has a whole bunch of different holes in it.

MT: Yes, exactly. So it has holes designating the keys of the keypad — so six navigation keys like Up, Down, Okay, Back — those kind of keys; and then, numerical keys, so 1, 2, 3, etc., with a raised dot on the key number 5 — sort of familiar keypad layout.


JM: And instead of pressing on the actual keys, you press between — in the holes. You put —

MT: Exactly.

JM: — kind of your fingertips —

MT: So you would press inside the holes.

JM: All right. So — and then, in addition to that — so obviously, doing it that way, you have to kind of have some custom apps, right? Because, you know —

MT: Yes. So it works in combination with our interface. So all our applications are controlled with the keys of the keypad, and it's a hundred-percent talking interface. So wherever you are, your phone will tell you what you're doing and where you are at all times.

JM: So people would barely recognize this even as an Android phone. It's more of a custom set of apps; correct?

MT: Yes, that's correct. However, you can still, if you wish to do so, navigate back and forth; that the standard platform and Claria. So if you wish to explore the standard Android platform with TalkBack, you can do so as well.

JM: So yeah, we've noticed that, with Android, one of the things you can do is — you're — you're providing a different home screen, essentially.

MT. Yes.

JM: And what are some of the apps that you have?

MT: So, as you mentioned, we provide a different home screen with list menus as opposed to the icon screen, which can be a bit difficult to navigate — navigate in. So the apps — we offer around 30 applications — so all the stand-out functions of smartphones. So phone, of course, or emails or GPS, etc. And then, also, more specific functions. So we have an audiobook reader that reads DAISY and other formats as well. We have optical character recognition, color recognition, bar code recognition, a light sensor, etc. — so quite a lot of dedicated features as well on top of the standard features.

JM: And these are all apps that would come with the — if you were to purchase the software, or —

MT: Oh, yes. They're all — they are included in the software; and also, we add new apps or upgrades quite frequently, and all our updates are free and can be downloaded from the phone.

JM: Which version of Android is this based on currently?

MT: 4.4, currently.

JM: Okay. Would there be an anticipated upgrade to Lollipop or 5.0 in the future, or —

MT: Possibly. Any update would mean an upgrade, also, of our system; so we tend to try to accommodate both. Possibly, but it's not somethingyet.

JM: So — so one of the things about the — you're using a — a Nexus 5 currently. Of course, phones are changing all the time. So — so this — this overlay works with this phone, right? And the apps, correct?

MT: So the Nexus 5 is the phone we're launching the solution on in the U.S.; but we, of course, work on other phones as well for the future.

JM: Okay. So what is the — the price of this, and who's selling it here?

MT: So the price of this is $599, including the phone, the overlay, and the software.

JM: And to put that in perspective, a Nexus 5, I believe, was, what, going for three or four hundred bucks, I think.

MT: Yes. In that area, yes.

JM: So, you know, you're — just a little bit extra to add the overlay, which is made of — what's the material that that's made of?

MT: Elastomer.

JM: Okay. So that, of course, and — and the apps. Is there a — a kit — if someone already has a Nexus 5, is there an option for them, or —

MT: So at the moment, we would only sell it as a package; but it's really the early stage in the U.S., so it's possible that we'll offer the option in the future. In Europe, we offer the option to just install the software on the phone.

JM: Okay. And who's selling it in the U.S.?

MT: Odin Mobile.

JM: All right.

MT: Odin spells O-d-i-n.

JM: Yes. Awesome. And you — you also have another phone for low-vision users?

MT: Yes, that's correct. That's the Claria Zoom. So it offers access to the same applications, but it has options to increase the reading comfort, such as — you can magnify the text, which we automatically adapt to the screen so that you don't have to scroll all the time. And you can change the contrast to whichever is most comfortable for you, and you can also activate speech at all times. If you're tired of reading, you can activate the speech just by sliding two fingers on the screen.

JM: Now, does the low-vision one have an overlay as well, or is it just using another screen?

MT: So the most common use is without an overlay because you have more screen space to increase the size of the text, for example. If you wish, you can also use it with the overlay. That's — that's an option.

JM: Mm-hmm.

MT: But then you will have a more limited screen space available because the overlay takes some space.

JM: Can you combine — if someone is a low-vision user but also wants some speech, can you use —

MT: Yes. Yes, you can use that. And — for example, with the Claria Vox version — the one I — I demonstrated initially — you can also increase the size of the characters and change the contrast, etc. So you can combine both, yes.

JM: And how much does the low-vision product cost?

MT: $599 as well. Same price.

JM: Okay. So it's more your preference of whether you want a speech interface or one for a —

MT: Exactly. Exactly.

JM: Is there any Braille support, or — as far as what's using an Android or —

MT: You can connect via bluetooth a Braille display to the phone, using —

JM: Is that using the —

MT: BrailleBack, yes.

JM: It's using — so you support BrailleBack —

MT: Yes.

JM: — inside the — the launcher.

MT. Yes, exactly. But you can connect using — staying within Claria, so you don't have to switch to Android to connect to the — to the Braille display —

JM: Okay.

MT: — or to Wi-Fi or — etc. All the settings are within Claria.

JM: Okay. If people want to get more information, what's the best way to do that?

MT: So they can contact us, or they can contact our partner, Odin Mobile. To get more information, it's possible to go on our website, www.claria-vision.com.

JM: Spell that.

MT: Claria is C-l-a-r-i-a.

JM: -vision —

MT: -vision.com.

JM: Okay. Great. And of course, Odin Mobile in the — the U.S. as well.

MT: Yes. They're in the U.S. as well, yes.

JM: Cool. Hey, thank you so much, Marie, for coming on.

MT: Thanks so much.

For more exclusive audio coverage, visit BlindBargains.com or download the Blind Bargains app for your iOS or Android device.

Blind Bargains audio coverage is presented by the AT Guys, online at ATGuys.com.

This has been another Blind Bargains audio podcast. Visit BlindBargains.com for the latest deals, news, and exclusive content. This podcast may not be retransmitted, sold, or reproduced without the express, written permission of AT Guys. Copyright 2015.


Listen to the File


File size: 8.8MB
Length: 07:57

Check out our audio index for more exclusive content
Blind Bargains Audio RSS Feed

This content is the property of Blind Bargains and may not be redistributed without permission. If you wish to link to this content, please do not link to the audio files directly.

Category: Cell Phones

No one has commented on this post.

You must be logged in to post comments.

Username or Email:
Password:
Keep me logged in on this computer

Or Forgot username or password?
Register for free

J.J. Meddaugh is an experienced technology writer and computer enthusiast. He is a graduate of Western Michigan University with a major in telecommunications management and a minor in business. When not writing for Blind Bargains, he enjoys travel, playing the keyboard, and meeting new people.


Copyright 2006-2024, A T Guys, LLC.