Reading Aid Technology for Blind Persons: Responses to a Questionnaire of Experienced Users

Twenty-five experienced blind users of reading aid technology (e.g., Optacon, KRM, adapted computers, etc.), selected at random, were administered an extensive telephone questionnaire. The purposes of the questionnaire were to determine answers to questions in several areas, including: (1) what devices interviewees were currently using and their history of training and use of those devices; and (2) range of current applications of the devices and degree of satisfaction with them. Questionnaires were administered by one interviewer, using a consistent interviewing style, and interviews lasted between 50 minutes and 4 hours (the latter over several sessions). Responses were recorded in writing, as they were given, on the questionnaire sheets. After all questionnaires had been administered, the responses were subjected to statistical analysis or content analysis, depending on the answer type. This article presents the findings relating to the points noted above: it describes what devices the respondents are currently using, their training histories, how they employ the devices, and what attitudes they hold toward their reading aids. At the end of the article, the authors draw some general conclusions based on patterns of attitudes and uses that emerged in interviewee responses.