This article is a life hack piece introducing convenient apps that assist our daily lives.
It's an introduction to services that solve your problems, so be sure to read until the end.
1. A Comprehensive Introduction to Convenient Support Services and Apps
1-1. Telephone Request Notebook
This is a handy notebook used by people with hearing or speech impairments and the elderly when they need to ask for help from those around them. It can be obtained at NTT branch customer service desks, local governments, and welfare organizations, and is also available in web and app versions.
What are the benefits of this app?
- It allows you to clearly communicate what you need, making it easier for others to understand.
- Available on both notebooks and smartphones, making it convenient to carry around.
- It can be a tool to call for help in emergencies.
- By writing down what you want to ask, what you want to know, and your gratitude in advance, you can feel at ease.
- It's free to use.
- Can be used as a communication tool for various purposes.
Reference: NTT Data "Telephone Request Notebook"
1-2. BlindSquare
This app assists mobility for people with visual or hearing impairments. By shaking your smartphone, it provides audio guidance about your current location and surrounding information. It also suggests places of interest based on various information.
This app has been in operation since 2012 and is loved in over 150 countries worldwide. For download and usage instructions, please contact the developer.
Reference: BlindSquare (MIPsoft)
What are the benefits of this app?
- It's convenient because it provides audio guidance just by shaking your smartphone.
- It offers excellent accessibility features, making it user-friendly and easy to access.
- It continuously updates the distance from your current location to your destination, allowing you to reach your desired place confidently on your own.
- It suggests places of interest to users, allowing people with disabilities to discover favorite shops or places without restrictions.
- It recommends places users have visited before, popular spots nearby, and customized/personalized suggestions.
- It supports 24 languages, making it usable overseas.
The biggest drawback of this app is that it is only available for iPhone users. Many people in Japan use Android devices, so it would be great if it could be updated to support Android as well.
1-3. Be My Eyes - Helping Blind See
This app acts as the "eyes" for people with visual impairments, allowing sighted individuals to assist through live chat. It can be used in any situation where visual assistance is needed.
Here are some examples of when to use it, as referenced from the site.
・Finding lost or misplaced items
・Describing photos, paintings, or other artworks
・Reading labels
・Grocery shopping
What are the benefits of this app?
- It allows you to perceive complex and delicate items like photos and artworks through someone else's eyes.
- Live chat makes it convenient to request assistance anytime, anywhere.
- It's free to use on both iPhone and Android.
This app is a heartwarming blend of technology and human kindness, offering real-time video support.
If you can't quite imagine what the app is like, please watch this video.
Reference: What is Be My Eyes - Helping Blind See?
1-4. I Have Voice
This app is designed to expand communication for individuals with conditions like spinal muscular atrophy (ALS) or motor neuron disease (MND) that make speaking or moving difficult.
By looking at symbols on the screen, users can play the sounds stored in those symbols. Please check the reference site for available sound symbols.
What are the benefits of this app?
- It allows you to express what you want to say with just eye movement, making it easy to operate.
- It helps convey your emotions to others.
Reference: What is I Have Voice?
1-5. Medical ID
What if you suddenly fall ill and lose consciousness?
If you've created a Medical ID, those providing first aid can access information such as allergies, medical conditions, and emergency contacts from the lock screen without entering a passcode.
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