Building an App For Blind People: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Accessible and User-Friendly Navigation Apps

Do you want to better the lives of visually impaired individuals? Then you may consider building an app for the blind! Before further exploring the topic, let’s first look into the market and statistics to help you understand the need. There are more than 284 million people who are visually impaired all across the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that 2.2 billion people worldwide have some type of vision impairment. Another study found that more than 1 billion people can be treated, but haven’t received treatment yet. According to recent stats from the American Foundation for the Blind, over 25 million Americans are blind or visually impaired.

In the hustle and bustle of urban life, navigating the city can be a challenge, especially for those with visual impairments. That’s where creating an app for blind people comes into play. Crafting an app that caters to the needs of the visually impaired is not just about lines of code; it’s about building a bridge to accessibility. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of developing a user-friendly navigation app tailored for the blind. From understanding the unique challenges they face to implementing features that enhance their experience, this journey involves both technical prowess and a genuine commitment to inclusivity.

Let’s dive into the world of healthcare app development that transcends barriers and opens up new pathways for those who navigate life with resilience and determination.

A key item to know is that technology has made it possible for visually challenged people to explore the digital world. Advanced technology not only enhances the quality of life for blind people, but it can also help them to experience more of the colorful world. Since there are so many apps and services arriving on the market, now is the optimal time to make previously unachievable items accessible for blind people, offering them independence with tech advancements.

Building an app for blind people isn’t an easy task. Several entrepreneurs have already constructed applications for the blind and visually impaired. They are now utilized by users all across the world and have been incorporated into some medical programs. If you are considering building a vision impaired app, thoroughly read the entire blog for the best information. Let’s move on to the specifics now!

4 Apps for Visually Impaired People to Spark Inspiration

1. NavCog

Developed by IBM Research scientists, NavCog is a new application that allows blind people to easily navigate the world using turn-by-turn guidance, similar to GPS.

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2. EyeNote

Developed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, EyeNote is an app that allows users to scan U.S. money to determine its denomination. This app is an excellent choice for blind people when they make transactions or purchases with cash. The app communicates and shows the value of the bill through tone, vibration, or spoken word.

3. Big Browser

Navigating any browser can be especially difficult when you have impaired vision. Big Browser is an app specifically designed to help individuals with eye issues. It adjusts color themes and zooms in on content for easier reading. The app also offers a larger keyboard and simple controls to use and see.

4. RAY App

The RAY App has been designed to replace the traditional click interaction of Android devices by implementing touch and directional swipe gestures, making eye-free navigation much easier. From online audio books, voice-operated messaging, and color identification, this application increases Android devices’ accessibility for visually impaired people.

7 App Ideas for Visually Impaired People

Voice-Controlled Navigation App (GPS Navigation App With Audio Directions)

Voice controlled navigation apps utilize a voice-activated GPS navigation software that provides turn-by-turn driving directions. GPS directions are one of the most effective, innovative, and user-friendly apps for area measurement. They give up-to-date directions to reach any destination in the world for visually impaired people.

Audio Book Reader App

Although audiobooks have become popular for many, not only among visually impaired people, their main purpose is to help blind people read books without requiring eyesight. As the name implies, this type of app should offer audio reading and simple navigation options for people with low vision.

Voice-Controlled Camera App

Voice-activated and controlled camera apps allow visually impaired people to take photos easily. As you may know, users download an app that connects to the camera, which can be opened using code words that users set. The app takes photos through the instructions users give the camera, so no vision is required.

Color Identifier App

According to the report, there are over 300 million people in the world with color vision deficiency. The same source finds that 1 in 12 men are color blind (8%), and 1 in 200 women are color blind (0.5%). Building an app to help these individuals identify colors is an excellent idea. It can contain multiple helpful features and utilize AI, so colorblind people can quickly identify the color seen when shopping, dressing up, or just wondering what colors are in front of them at any given moment.

Voice-Controlled Note-Taking App

Note-taking apps have increased in popularity over the last few years. They are used by marketers, product managers, and all sorts of creators. However, do these apps offer voice-controlled note-taking? Not typically. If you are trying to find your small, yet profitable, niche while also helping blind people take notes without using their eyes – this app type may be the perfect fit for you.

Audio Game App

The gaming industry is estimated to reach US $221.40 billion in 2023. The same area is projected to gain 2,776.9m users by 2027. The gaming space is one of the most popular and profitable industries today. This bodes the question: what happens for those who can’t see? Audio game apps are a great solution. These apps provide games where audio offers all of the available actions and feedback to the user. Text is spoken, and the playing space is created based on sound. Although it may seem limited, users can thoroughly enjoy playing these games using solely sound.

Accessible Social Media App (Dating app)

Although there are many social media apps, only a few of them are accessible for visually impaired people. There are certain features that a dating or social app for blind people should contain. For example, your images should display a strong color contrast, especially when an image contains text.

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6 Design Tips for Visually Impaired Apps

1. Colour Code & Textures

Blind people don’t experience the appeal of color coding a message as they won’t see changes in screen color. When designing an app for the visually impaired, you should not rely on color to communicate a message to the end user. Therefore, you can use textures to distinguish one piece of information from another instead of color; this will offer blind people more ease and a better experience.

2. Text Size

If you want to develop successful software for visually impaired users, it is vital to offer a text size with the “zoom” feature. This will allow users to read the text easier. Although constant zooming inside an app wastes the app session time and reduces overall app performance time, this feature must be implemented for people with low vision. Also, remember that you will need to build an app with bigger text initially and offer the option to change the text’s font size to users with poor vision in the app based on their need and comfort levels.

3. Screen Reading Tools

Some built-in screen reading tools, known as VoiceOver and ORCA, are designed for Android and iPhones. They allow blind people to audibly hear what appears on the screen and improve product interaction. In this case, if you want to create an app for the blind you should incorporate screen reading tools as a must in your application. Ensure you hire the best react native app development company that can offer you an app that utilizes these tools to execute basic functions.

4. Add Alt-Text for Images

Another vital feature to ensure your app includes is alt text for images. Alt text for images is crucial because it will make text material more readable. Instead of trying to understand what the picture looks like, a visually impaired user will be able to use a voice search tool to hear the words associated with the image. Therefore, your app development team should always add this in-app and offer alt text to visuals.

5. Dark Mode

When building apps for people with visual impairments, it is important to offer a dark mode in your app. The dark mode is a popular option for many apps today, but is essential for those with poor vision. If your app is text-based, displaying it in lighter tones on a dark background, rather than the opposite, will make the text easier for the visually impaired audience to read.

6. Illustrative Language

Another essential addition into your app is illustrative language for visually impaired people. Adding built-in screen readers can greatly assist individuals with poor or no vision to receive all the information with ease and convenience. Your application should consist of transparent text that explains what you want users to do through the app. 

Development Process 

1. Competitor and Market Research

The first step in any development process is to conduct market research. Whether you already have a healthcare business or just want to better the lives of blind people, you probably don’t understand the industry to the full extent you should before kicking off the process. So, make sure you collect all vital data to gain a solid grasp on what the product will achieve.

2. Design And Features

This stage is responsible for creating a list of features your app needs and starting to design wireframes. You can learn what features you need based on market research and competitors. But always make sure the design contains the must-have features we mentioned above.

3. App Development 

Once your design and concept of the product are set, you are ready to create your in-house team or hire a company in the U.S. that offers healthcare app development services. Hiring the right team will help you ensure the product will comply with all industry requirements, and you won’t waste time and money on what doesn’t work. You can also use team augmentation services to manage the project by yourself, yet gain an entire team within 10 business days.

4. Launch And Maintenance

The final step to build your apps for visually impaired people is launch. However, launching isn’t the last thing you need to do. Ensure you always update your app once you receive reviews and user feedback, and don’t forget about ongoing app maintenance.

Why Design an App for Visually Impaired Users?

Statistics show that more than 285 million people worldwide are visually impaired. As we age and live longer lives, the number of individuals with low or no vision will only increase. In addition, constant use of technology causes our eyes to weaken and leads to vision-related issues. While this is an urgent problem, only a small number of apps are already available for people with low vision.

User Experience (UX) in Blind-Friendly Apps

There are several requirements, in terms of UX, when building apps for blind or visually impaired people. These include:

1. Use ENLARGED TEXT in Abundance
2. Add Alt Text for Images in Surplus
3. Be Careful with Contrasts
4. Add More Textures
5. Follow Minimalism
6. Allow Dark Mode

Understanding factors that must be considered when building these apps also involves experience in the industry. Healthcare app development companies in the U.S. that you partner with for the duration of the project should offer designers with relevant skills and background on similar projects. Check the company’s case studies and explore their skills on your initial calls.

How Can Interexy Help with developing apps for blind people?

As a leading telemedicine app development company, we offer a vast range of mobile app development services. Our teams are experienced in mHealth, telemedicine solutions, and apps for visually impaired people, so we can provide ready-made solutions for your business problems. You can delegate the entire development project, hire specialists for specific tasks, or even gain the entire healthcare app development team.

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Closing Line

There are many visually impaired people today that require apps specifically designed for them. Although it is a complex process that requires knowledge and skills in the medical domain, it can also be a highly profitable niche. Book a call with our experts if you have any questions regarding the development process or would like to partner with us.

FAQs

How can developers ensure that their app is accessible to visually impaired users?

Knowing some essential information during the design and development stage is vital. For example, visually impaired apps should offer features like zoom, dark mode, voice-controlled camera, illustrative language, etc.

How can I hire developers from Interexy?

Book a call with our experts to discuss the project, and we will create your team or offer candidates upon request within 10 business days.