Prevent Blindness America recently released a report that estimated the costs associated with adult vision problems in the United States at at a staggering $51.4 billion.
The study calculates the cost to the individual, their caregiver and the U.S. Economy. Researchers are hopefully that the study will give policymakers a better look at the financial impact of vision loss on the individual, caregivers, the government and insurance premiums.
It is believed that the impact vision loss has on the U.S. economy will only increase in coming decades as the baby boomer generation ages.
You can read more on the study, including how the cost was determined, here.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Economic Impact of Vision Problems $51.4 Billion
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Blind Pilot flies 13,500 miles
Miles Hilton-Barber, 58, lost his eyesight to a hereditary condition more that 20 years ago. That didn't stop him from flying from London to Sydney in 54 days to fulfill his dream of being a pilot.
Assisted by sighted co-pilot Richard Meredith-Hardy,40, the pair left Biggin Hill air base in London on March 7th in the microlight aircraft. The aircraft looks like a cross between a tricycle and a motorized hanglider, and was equipped with an audio device that reads out navigational information, including air speed and altitude.
Hilton-Barber hopes that his flight will raise US $2 million dollars for the charity Seeing is Believing, which works for the prevention of blindness in developing countries. To date, approximately $65,000 US has been raised as a result of Hilton-Barber's flight.
Hilton-Barber has always been an adventurer, and has previously conquered Mount Kilimanjaro and Mont Blanc, ran marathons in the Sahara and Gobi deserts, and hauled a sledge over 250 miles of Antartic Ice in an attempt to reach the South Pole.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Using virtual touch to "see" objects
Researchers at Arizona State University are developing technology that will allow the blind and visually impiared to to use their sense of touch to "see" distant objects or onces that can't be touched, such as artifacts or artwork.
Called a haptic interface, the gloves, developed by the scientists at the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing (or CUbIC), create a virtual object that the wearere can feel just seconds after a spoken or gestured command.
The researchers at CUbIC designed the gloves as part of a flagship project called iCARE, and acronym for Information technology Centric Assistive and Rehabilitative Environment. The goal of iCARE is to create devices that assist the visually impaired with aspects of life such as studying, recognizing friends and family, visiting museums and shopping in stores.
In addition to the gloves, researchers have also created a pair of sunglasses with a camera embedded in the nose peice and a speaker in the strap that will tell a visually impaired person if someone familiar is approaching. The glasses look just like regular Oakleys or Ray-Bans.
Researchers hope to develop technology for the glasses which will not only recognize a familiar person, but give the wearer insight into their emotional state and details such as if they have had a haircut or changed their hair color. CUbiC is also proposing radio frequency identification tags for retail outlets that would transmit information about the product and price to a PalmPilot like device that the visually impaired shopper can carry.
You can read more about the research at CUbic here.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Independent Living Aids Buys rival Mailers
Jericho, New York based Independent Living Aids, the country's oldest privately held cataloger specializing in products for the blind and visually impaired, has acquired cataloger Ann Morris Enterprises, which also sells products for people with vision loss. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Products similar to those sold by in both catalogs are used by IB West to assist our clients in living independent lives.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Support IB West for a chance to win a weekend on the beach!
Win the
Angels on the Beach Getaway
at the
Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front
BLUE ANGELS WEEKEND - July 19, 20 & 21
Drawing will be held on June 29
Gulf-front Room Meal Package Included
Proceeds benefit
Independence for the Blind of West Florida
850.477.2663 www.ibwest.org
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