Journal 5

Journal # 5

 Seeing is Believing! Runyan, M. (2013). Seeing is believing!. Learning and leading with technology, 40(5), doi: http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-leading

 In the article Seeing is Believing! We are introduced the high cost of technology for those people with poor vision. This cost is known as the “blindness tax” and is something I witnessed growing up with my older brother as he is legally blind. I have always known that smart phones could translate into another language on the spot, but I never realized that they could also enlarge and zoom so someone that can not see well can have a translator in the palm of their hand also. Read to go and voiceover also contribute directly into increases functionality for low vision learners. The technology revolution is really bringing increased efficiency and ease of use into the lives of our low vision learners.

 Q1 Does the extra cost of technology for low vision learners enable them to learn just as well as someone without that hardship?

 A1 I have witnessed learners with disabilities such as low vision learners have more of a drive to master the material than those for whom things of this nature come easily. The same thing is seen is sports where we root for the person with a strong work ethic over the person with natural ability. Though of course, it is best to see both.

 Q2 Have you noticed low vision technology interfering with the other non low vision learners in a classroom setting?

 A2 No. With the way that technology is going, such as voice over and braille on demand for low vision learners, the learning curve and the amount of set up is almost zero. It practically takes more time to set up a laptop than it does to access a low vison app.