Can Blind People See?

Before you think I went totally crazy, let me explain where this question is coming from. Recently I was checking this blog's traffics statistics, and I found that somebody asked this same question in Google, which led to this blog: "Can blind people see?". First, I thought it is just some nonsense, they can't. That's why they are blind. but the more I thought about it, maybe for some reason somebody asked this question in all sincerity, so let me answer it.

When somebody is blind, there are whole lot of things which are given for many, but the lack of sight takes it away. By default, blind people are not able to enjoy many things which eye-sight provides. They cannot enjoy a harmony of colors, cannot explore the environment farther than their arms' reach, they cannot read regular print books, etc. However, as these things are very important to function in life, many technologies were developed to compensate for the lack of site. Here I will discuss some, and will provide links for additional reading.

White cane

Let's just look at the simplest invention, a white cane. With this, blind people are able to explore the ground two steps in front of them. While two steps plus-minus does not make much a of a difference in general, when you add two to zero, it is a whole lot. With using a simple device like a white cane, it is possible to avoid dangerous obstacles, and get around independently.

Screen readers

A more complex invention is a software which enables blind people to use the computer or the phone. It is called a screen reader. In simple terms, a screen reader reads everything that appears on the screen, or anything the user types. For details, read how blind people use the computer, or the mobile phone. Another piece that might be interesting to read is a day of a blind woman, in which I explore how technology can help a blind person throughout a day.

Colors

While it is very difficult to enjoy the harmony of colors in general, there are several inventions to help blind people find out the color of different objects which can become very useful on a daily basis. Read how blind people identify color.

Currency

Especially in the United States, recognizing currency is also a daily issue, which is difficult be default. There are some solutions for this, too. Read how blind people identify currency.

Conclusion

This is nothing more than a small sample of what technology can do. However, if you just look at the above examples, you will see that these inventions can make a huge difference in people's lives.