Conditions and issues regarding the use of information equipments by visually impaired people in Kochi

Abstract

In order to clarify the present conditions and issues of the visually impaired people in Kochi prefecture, a survey as regard to their use of information equipments according the mailing list was conducted from July 1 to August 31 in 2008. Then, 21 people who used the information equipments answered the survey. 60% of them answered that they had difficulties reading and writing the ink characters by using even a magnifying reading equipment. There were no significant differences in the years and operation level regarding to the use of personal computers and cell phones between the visually impaired people who could read and write the ink characters and who could not. Also, there was not difference indicated in the purposes of using Internets and gathering information between the visually impaired and people without visual problems. In addition, they answered that they did not feel any gaps with the people without visual problems doing tasks on Internet. However, although the visually impaired people did not feel any differences in collecting information on Internet, they thought there were gaps in collecting information in other social life and not enough support were given to decrease those gaps. Therefore, if those gaps were tried to diminish as much as possible for the visual impaired people, it was considered that the personal computer volunteers might be able to take an active part in supporting them.