1 Year On: Use of App to Help Visually Impaired in Disasters Spreading
A growing number of local governments in Japan are using a smartphone app to help visually impaired residents access critical information in the event of a natural disaster.
Category: Blind
New Okinawa volunteer group established to support use of smartphones and apps by visually impaired
A new volunteer group has been established to support the use of smartphones and apps in an effort to eliminate the information gap caused by visual impairment. Izumi Yoshi, representative of the Prefectural Visually Impaired Support Center said: “We provide telephone support, but if you have any problems, please feel free to contact us.”
Developer with Visual Impairment to Introduce “AI Suitcase” to Enable Blind People at Kansai-Osaka Expo
Chieko Asakawa, IBM Fellow and director of the Miraikan (Tokyo) National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, who develops technology to support the visually impaired, gave a lecture at Kyoto Lighthouse in Kita-ku, Kyoto City. She touched on her latest projects, such as the “AI suitcase” that will be tested at next year’s Osaka-Kansai Expo.
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Seeks to Interview People with Visual Impairments Who Fell from Station Platforms
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is interviewing visually impaired people who have fallen from station platforms about the circumstances of the fall in order to raise awareness among related parties and prevent the recurrence of falls by visually impaired people from station platforms. The information the ministry obtains will be made public if the consent of the interviewee(s) is given.
Man arrested for allegedly assaulting visually impaired man in accessible toilet at Jimbocho Station, Tokyo [Podcast Episode]
A 34-year-old man was arrested for assaulting a visually impaired man by kicking him with his foot in the multipurpose restroom at Jimbocho Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line in Tokyo. The suspect Ikeda admitted to the investigation that he “felt rushed” and admitted to the charges.
Man arrested for allegedly assaulting visually impaired man in multi-purpose toilet at Jimbocho Station, Tokyo
A 34-year-old man was arrested for assaulting a visually impaired man by kicking him with his foot in the multipurpose restroom at Jimbocho Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line in Tokyo. The suspect Ikeda admitted to the investigation that he “felt rushed” and admitted to the charges.
Japan startup’s shoe vibrator helps visually impaired to navigate
A startup backed by Honda Motor Co. has launched a shoe-mounted vibration device to help visually impaired people navigate their surroundings.
Paired with a smartphone app, the device developed by Ashirase wraps around the foot and sends prompts by vibration. It contains a motion sensor to detect the user’s position and signal a turn at the appropriate time.
Only A Few Months After Fall, Natsumi Inouchi Wins Beppu Oita Marathon Visually Impaired Category
Para-athlete Natsumi Inouchi has won the Beppu Oita Marathon, winning the women’s visually impaired category, finishing at 3 hours, 14 minutes and 24 seconds.
Inouchi fell from a station platform in November last year, colliding with a train. She was unable to train for a month due to a right leg injury, and finished the Hofu Yomiuri Marathon in December in 3 hours and 25 minutes.
Visually Impaired Woman from Fukuoka Devises Method of Putting Makeup on for the Blind, Wins ‘Citizen of the Year’ Award
The team, led by Ms. Misuzu Hojo, 31, who herself is visually impaired, has devised a makeup method using the fingers of both hands and has been spreading the method through lectures. At a ceremony held in Tokyo on January 29th Ms. Hojo expressed her dream: “In the future, I would like to hold a fashion show where visually impaired people who put on their own makeup can stand on stage and enjoy the show, even if they are blind or have difficulty seeing.”
Disability News Japan Podcast: Tokyo Metro Govt Offers 200 Visually Impaired People Tickets to Paris Paralympic 2024 Judo Qualifying Event for Free
On November 22nd, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced through a press release that it is offering 200 tickers for spectators who have visual impairments for free for the Paris Paralympic Qualifier IBSA Judo Grand Prix which is to be held on Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th December 2023 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
Barrier Free Japan 