The technology blind people use most is a screen reader, which speaks or brailles whatever is on a computer or phone screen. Around it sit camera apps that describe the world, smart glasses, refreshable braille displays and voice assistants. NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, TalkBack, Seeing AI, Be My Eyes and Envision Glasses are the names that come up most.
This guide covers 12 of these assistive tools in six groups. Each entry says what the tool does, who it suits and what it costs where a source states it.
For deeper comparisons, see the guides on NVDA vs JAWS, AI tools for blind and low vision users and apps for blind and visually impaired people.
What Is Assistive Technology for Blind and Visually Impaired People?
Assistive technology is any device, software or app that helps a blind or visually impaired person do something that would otherwise depend on sight. A screen reader is assistive technology. So is a braille display or a camera app that reads a label aloud.
Adaptive technology is the term many people use for the same idea, and it is also used for ordinary products modified for access. Built in accessibility, such as VoiceOver on iPhone or TalkBack on Android, sits in between: it ships with the device and needs no extra purchase. This guide treats all three as technology for blind people.
Technology for Blind People at a Glance
| Tool | What it does | Platform | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDA | Screen reader with speech and braille output | Windows | Free |
| JAWS | Screen reader with speech and braille output | Windows | Paid |
| VoiceOver | Built in screen reader | iPhone, iPad, Mac | Included with the device |
| TalkBack | Built in screen reader | Android | Included with the device |
| Seeing AI | Reads text, scans products, describes scenes | iPhone, Android | Free |
| Be My Eyes | Video help from volunteers and AI image descriptions | iPhone, Android | Free |
| Lookout by Google | Reads text and documents, identifies currency and food labels | Android | See the Play Store listing |
| ChatGPT and Google Gemini | Answer questions about photos you upload | Phone and web | Free plans with usage limits (ChatGPT) |
| Envision Glasses | Smart glasses that read text and describe scenes aloud | Glasses | Paid |
| Meta AI glasses | Describe surroundings, read text, call a Be My Eyes volunteer | Glasses | Paid |
| Refreshable braille display | Shows text as raised braille dots | Computer, phone, tablet | Paid |
| Smart speakers | Voice control of lights, appliances and media | Echo and similar | Paid |
Screen Readers: The Core Technology for Blind People on Computers
A screen reader is the single most important piece of assistive technology for most blind computer users. It reads out menus, documents and web pages and lets the user move around with the keyboard instead of a mouse.
NVDA
NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) is a free, open source screen reader for Windows. Its maker, NV Access, says it can run from a USB drive without installation and that it supports many refreshable braille displays. The built in speech synthesizer covers more than 55 languages. Add-ons extend it further, as covered in the guide to the best NVDA add-ons.
JAWS
JAWS (Job Access With Speech) is a paid Windows screen reader from Freedom Scientific that gives speech and braille output. At the time of writing, its price list shows a Home Annual license at $95 per year in the U.S. and a perpetual Home license at $1,200. Prices change, so check the official page before buying. The NVDA vs JAWS comparison explains which suits which user.
VoiceOver on Mac
Apple builds VoiceOver into every Mac, with no extra cost. It also works with braille displays and with Apple’s own apps.
Smartphone Technology for Blind People
Modern phones ship with a screen reader already installed, which is why a phone is often the first piece of technology a blind person uses. If you are choosing one, see phones for blind people.
VoiceOver on iPhone
Apple describes VoiceOver as a screen reader that speaks or brailles what is on screen and can describe images. It supports many braille tables, and Apple states support for more than 70 braille displays on iPhone and iPad. The Magnifier app can read text aloud, and on models with LiDAR its Detection Mode alerts the user to nearby people, doors and furniture. Practical setup help is in the iPhone VoiceOver tips guide.
TalkBack on Android
TalkBack is Google’s screen reader, included on Android devices. Google describes it as eyes free control of the device. It uses spoken feedback, gestures and a built in tutorial that opens the first time it is turned on. Setup steps vary by manufacturer and Android version.
AI and Camera Apps: Technology That Describes the World for Blind People
Camera apps use a phone’s camera and artificial intelligence to turn visual information into speech. They help with reading mail, checking a label or finding out what is on a table.
Seeing AI
Microsoft’s Seeing AI is free on iPhone and Android. It has channels for short text, documents, products and barcodes, scenes, people, currency, colors, handwriting and light. It reads a printed page aloud with its original formatting and can describe a photo shared from another app.
Be My Eyes
Be My Eyes is a free app that connects a blind or low vision person with a sighted volunteer over video. The company states that more than 7 million volunteers take part, speaking 185 languages. Its Be My AI feature lets users send an image and ask questions about it, with descriptions in 36 languages.
Lookout by Google
Lookout is an Android app that works on Android 6.0 and later. Google lists seven modes: Text, Documents, Food labels, Currency, Images, Find and Explore. The currency mode recognizes US dollars, Euros and Indian rupees, and Google marks Explore as a beta that is less accurate than the other modes. Check the Play Store listing for current pricing.
ChatGPT and Google Gemini
General AI assistants can describe a photo that a user uploads and answer follow up questions about it. OpenAI states that image inputs are available on its free and paid plans, subject to usage limits. These tools can make mistakes with charts and with some non Latin text, so important details such as medicine labels are best double checked. The guide on how blind users use ChatGPT shows practical examples.
Wearable Technology for Visually Impaired People
Wearable devices put a camera near the eyes, so the hands stay free for a cane or shopping.
Envision Glasses
Envision Glasses are smart glasses built on Google Glass Enterprise Edition 2. According to the maker, they read text instantly or in batch scans of several pages, describe scenes, find people the wearer has taught them to recognize, and connect to an assistant called Ally. They support over 60 languages for text. The maker lists a battery life of 5 to 6 hours with regular use. Pricing varies by edition, so check the official site.
Meta AI glasses
Meta states that its AI glasses can describe surroundings, read printed text aloud and connect to a Be My Eyes volunteer by voice command. Detailed responses can be turned on in the Meta AI app. The full test is in the guide to Meta Ray-Ban glasses for blind users.
Braille Technology for Blind People
Refreshable braille displays
A refreshable braille display is a device with a row of cells in which small pins rise and fall to form braille characters. A screen reader sends the screen content to the display line by line. Displays range from 12 to 80 cells per line. Most connect by USB to computers, and Bluetooth is common for phones and tablets. Some models also take typed braille input or read notes saved on an SD card. More reading options are in the guide to reading devices for the blind.
Smart Speakers and Home Technology for Blind People
Alexa and Smart Speakers
Voice assistants let blind users control lights and appliances, change TV channels and listen to audiobooks by speaking. Amazon also added a Show and Tell feature to Echo Show devices in 2019: the user holds up a pantry item and asks what it is. The guide on how Alexa helps blind people covers daily use.
Free vs Paid Assistive Technology for Blind People
A capable setup can cost nothing. NVDA is free on Windows, VoiceOver and TalkBack come with phones, and Seeing AI and Be My Eyes are free to use. Costs begin with specialist hardware such as braille displays and smart glasses, and with licensed software such as JAWS. Many users combine free tools with one or two paid ones.
How to Choose Technology for Blind People
For a totally blind computer user, a screen reader comes first, either NVDA or JAWS on Windows. For a phone user, VoiceOver or TalkBack needs no purchase and is the best starting point.
For someone with low vision, magnification and the Magnifier app on iPhone may help before a screen reader is needed. For students and workers, a braille display adds precise reading of text such as code, math and names. For everyday tasks such as labels and mail, a camera app like Seeing AI or Be My Eyes is a quick, free start.
What Is New in Technology for Blind People
The biggest shift is AI. Camera apps now answer follow up questions about an image, and Be My Eyes offers AI descriptions alongside volunteer calls. Smart glasses from Envision and Meta bring the same abilities to a hands free device. Lookout’s Images mode and Explore beta show the same direction on Android.
Frequently Asked Questions About Technology for Blind People
What technology do blind people use?
Most use a screen reader on their computer and phone, such as NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver or TalkBack. Many add camera apps like Seeing AI, a refreshable braille display and a smart speaker.
What is the best technology for blind people?
There is no single best tool. A screen reader is the most important for most users, and the right one depends on the device. A phone with VoiceOver or TalkBack is a common starting point.
How do blind people use smartphones?
They turn on the built in screen reader, which speaks what is under the finger and uses gestures to move and select. VoiceOver is on iPhone and TalkBack is on Android.
What is the difference between assistive and adaptive technology?
The terms are often used interchangeably. Assistive technology is the wider term for any tool that helps a person with a disability, and adaptive technology is often used for products modified for access.
What is the best free technology for blind people?
NVDA is a free screen reader for Windows, and VoiceOver and TalkBack are built into phones. Seeing AI and Be My Eyes are free apps for reading and visual help.
Is there technology that helps blind people see?
No device restores sight, but camera apps and smart glasses convert visual information into speech. They can read text, describe scenes and find objects.
What is the newest technology for blind people?
AI powered camera apps and smart glasses are the newest category. Be My AI, Envision Glasses and Meta AI glasses all describe surroundings and answer questions.
thank you that was very informative
Thank you, I’m glad it was informative.
Could a laptop be a good tool to use if you are legally blind. I’m trying to help a friend that’s is blind but he can see his phone but has to hold it right up close to his eyes.
Hi, yes, a laptop can work well for someone with low vision who has to hold a phone right up to their eyes. A bigger screen with the built-in magnifier (Zoom on a Mac, Magnifier on Windows), larger text and high-contrast settings often makes reading far easier. If his eyes tire, a screen reader such as NVDA on Windows or VoiceOver on a Mac can read the text aloud, so he can switch between looking and listening. Trying these settings on a borrowed laptop first will show quickly what suits him. I hope this helps your friend.