LookTel Money Reader

If you are blind or have very low vision here in the U.S., you've had to deal with the problem of U.S. paper currency (and I don't mean the lack of it--not yet anyway).  For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, unlike coins, bills are identical in size and weight and differ only in what is printed on them.  You have a couple of options:

1) Have everyone who hands you a bill tell you it's denomination and fold it in a specific manner for later identification.  The downside is that you need to trust the person handing you the bill, and these days, honesty is not necessarily a given.  Then you need to remember the different folds for every denomination.  This might not be a problem for most of us, but the elderly may find it a challenge.

2) Plunk down $300 for a money reader.  These little machines are very finicky about how you hold the bill and it's just one more thing to stuff in your purse or backpack. 

And if you don't want the people next to you to hear what you've got, you might have a problem. 

OK, say it with me folks, "THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT"!

Check out the Looktel Money Reader app for iOS!  I was skeptical at first but I actually had to *work* to fool this thing!  It scans the bill using the camera on your iOS device and reads the denomination as soon as it's recognized, which is usually super quick.  In most cases, the software read the bill before I'd finished unfolding it.  Front, back, left, right, center; the app reads it all.  The LED (if your device has one) will turn on automatically if needed.  They thought of everything!

But wait, there's more!  If you don't want your neighbor to hear what you've got, just plug in your ear buds.  Drop one or both in your ears and you're set.  I also just now realized if you have the iPhone ringer on mute, it will sound a different tone for each denomination. Cool!

There is one suggestion I have, though; a way to turn the LED on manually and/or voice notification when it shuts off. The only issue I had was that in a few situations, it was light enough to register as not needing the flash but too dark for a quick reading. It's a easy fix, though--just cover the camera with the bill for a second and the LED will turn back on. It's not a deal-breaker by any means whatsoever; it's just a suggestion for improvement if the developers are reading.

I was really impressed with the quality and simplicity of this software.  Open the app and it just works.  And for $1.99, this app is a big help for those of us on a really tight budget. Awesome job, LookTel.  Keep up the good work!

Check it out:



-- Stephanie Bargenquast

iOS Apps From A Unique Perspective

It's not that most people don't care about people with disabilities; they just don't think about it.  Even if they do give it a thought, it's hard for them to understand what we need if they've never experienced problems themselves.  App developers are no different.  Apple has done a good job of making things usable for as many people as possible with VoiceOver, Zooming and other adaptations.  Is it perfect? No, but it's a really good start.   But not all app developers make it easy, even with the accessibility features Apple provides. 

Bad color choices, small or oddly shaped fonts, non-descript images and a host of other issues can all make good apps difficult for disabled people to use.  More than once I've purchased an app only to find that it's nearly useless for me.  One app at 99 cents may not seem like much, but it adds up, especially if you're on a very strict budget. 

My goal with this blog is to highlight the good, the bad, and the ugly apps from a unique perspective so you don't waste your money, your time, or your bandwidth. 

The Road To An iPhone

I'm a music lover and tech geek, so when the iPod debuted there was no question of *if* I would get one, only when.  That long-awaited moment came in 2007 when I finally had a computer that could handle a USB connection.  While carrying 80 gigabytes of music in my pocket was a dream come true, there was one glaring disappointment.  Even with thick glasses, my iPod Video's screen was difficult for me to read.  It certainly wasn't unexpected; most things, especially tech toys, are not designed with visually impaired people in mind.  I dealt with that like I deal with small print everywhere else; I learned to recognize the overall shapes of band and album names instead of squinting at the individual letters.  It wasn't perfect, but it got me by. 

Then the iPhone came out.  Maybe this was the answer to my problems!  The potential was huge!  But the initial price tag was well beyond my budget and I already had a contract and was very happy with Verizon.  So once again, I waited.  The iPod Touch was announced shortly thereafter, but it would take another two and a half years of saving.  When I finally was able to get a 3rd generation iPod Touch, I was not disappointed.  Not only was the text larger and easier to read, but I could browse through cover art, making things much easier. 

And then, finally, Verizon got the iPhone!  Ah, if only it were that simple!  Like many full-time disabled people, I'm on a very strict budget. Saving the $150 for the iPhone wasn't the hardest part; like most other techies who read the news, I knew it was coming and put it on my Christmas list.  Coming up with the extra $30 a month *every month* for a data plan--now that was the challenge.  After whittling away at the budget for several months, I was finally able to cut enough expenses to make it do-able and in early June, I was the proud owner of an iPhone 4.  And I'm loving every minute of it. 

I never realized just how different the iPod Touch and the iPhone were until I had both.  The addition of a camera (two of them, actually), an LED flash and a GPS chip have vastly increased what I can do.  And then there's the phone!  I loved my little Motorola RAZR.  It was extremely small and reliable, but very difficult for me to see.  Most companies don't give a thought to people like me with vision problems.  But Apple isn't most companies. 

These days, I'm using my iPhone more than ever, for much more than just calling.  And no, I'm not giving up my iPod Touch!  I need all the mobile disc space I can get ;-). 

So come with me as I explore the iOS and search for the most accessible apps and gadgets to make the lives of disabled people easier and more enjoyable.