2007 PhD Thesis Final Revised.pdf - Curtin University

2.0 THE ROLE OF COMPUTING AND INTERNET-
RELATED TECHNOLOGIES FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE BLIND OR VISION IMPAIRED
2.1 Introduction
The previous chapter identified that the changing of social categories and the
creation of associated government policy and legislation had a significant impact on
the welfare of people with vision disabilities. The ever-changing nature of society
indicates that such changes have a significant impact in the present day.
This chapter focuses on the significance of change and policy on the welfare
of people who are blind and vision impaired. In this instance, the change refers to
technological change and corporate policy relating to the development of mainstream
and disability-specific products and services. Through the changing of the dominant
social category, interest emerged in creating new technological devices to assist
people with vision disabilities. Led initially by the development of the white cane,
blind and vision impaired people were given greater mobility and independence
through the provision of information about their surroundings. The development of
ultrasonic-devices for submarines also led to the creation of electronic-based
mobility devices for blind and vision impaired people. These developments in
assistive technology did not simply provide alternatives to an inferior body as
suggested by the dominant medical model-based social category - they provided
hope.
With the introduction of the personal computer, the hope for blind and vision
impaired people shifted from mobility to improved equality and independence.
Although some barriers existed in gaining access to such technology, the ability to
access written material and manipulate data with the help of assistive technology
devices established computing not only as a mainstream phenomenon but as a highly
beneficial disability-specific tool. The introduction of the Internet provided
additional hope of equality through the independent access of information and
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