Communication Technologies for People With Sensory Disabilities

Traditional user technology for communication, such as phones, computers, television, and radio, may not directly work for people who have sensory disabilities. Five classes of communication access technology are discussed: hearing enhancement technology, deaf technology, vision enhancement technology, blind technology, and deaf-blind technology. These technologies are discussed in the social context of the people who use the technology. Broad technical research challenges are delineated and new directions for exploration are discussed.