70% of the visually impaired in Japan have difficulty using smartphones and PCs, National group survey indicates

From The Tokyo Shimbun

May 31 2023

TOKYO  – A survey conducted by the Japan Federation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (JFV), a national organization, revealed on May 31 that of 853 people with disabilities surveyed regarding the use of digital devices such as smartphones and PCs, nearly 70% of the respondents answered that they have difficulties in terms of operating and other skills (technical skills). As digitization continues to advance, how to provide support for people with disabilities will become an issue.

The visually impaired have difficulty reading text and operating screens, so they use voice reading and voice input software when using digital devices. More than 50% of the respondents answered that it is financially difficult for them to purchase software.

The survey was conducted from January to February 2022 through member organizations and the Internet.

26.8% of the respondents answered that they were “troubled” in terms of skills, while 41.6% answered “somewhat troubled. A total of 68.4% felt that they were having difficulty, including 41.6% who said they were “somewhat troubled” with their skills.

When asked about specific difficulties, “Difficulty in initial setup” (62.1%), “Insufficient voice output” (61.2%), and “Insufficient support” (48.7%) were also notable responses.