Qualcomm and Project Ray team up to develop smartphone for the visually impaired

A partnership between US telecom giant Qualcomm and Project Ray looks to integrate smartphone technology and specific user interfaces’ to create a mobile device for the visually impaired.

This is not Project Ray’s first foray into mobile devices, having integrated its touch functionality, voice-command protocol and online audio books for 2G devices in the past.

This new device, dubbed “the Ray”, will incorporate “eye-free” operating systems and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors all set to run on a as yet-to-be-specified Android device.

Features for the “Ray” smartphone include a motion-display interface, text messaging with vocal read-out, voice-command navigation and audio-book functionality.

The device is currently in beta-testing phases in Israel, having been linked to Israel’s Central Library for the Blind, Visually Impaired and Handicapped where more than 100 users are putting it through its paces.

Pricing and availability on the device is not yet specified, however, Project Ray’s website will have have its online store up and running from 20 November. Update to follow.