Contents: To jump to the topic you would like, click on the links below
- Introduction
- Alarm Clocks
- Talking Calendar Alarm Clocks
- Braille Watches & Clocks
- Talking Watches
- References
Introduction
Most people plan out there days based on the time of the day, we wake up at specific times, go to work and come home at specific times and eat meals at specific times, we therefore rely on devices such as Alarm Clocks, Watches, Clocks and Calendars, to be able to wake up, tell the time and date. Persons With Visual Impairments or who are Blind are no different, therefore there are a variety of different types of these Assistive Devices which can assist Persons who are Blind or have Visual Impairments to be able to plan out there day and tell the time. These range from Braille Watches and Clocks to Talking Watches, Alarm Clocks and Calendars. These products are available in South Africa and supplied by Organizations and Companies such as Edit Microsystems.
Edit Microsystems: is a leading supplier of educational and corporate technology solutions in Southern Africa. Edit Microsystems
aims to find alternative, cutting-edge ways to improve teaching and learning in the education sector and to improve business communication in the corporate sector. Edit Microsystems provides services to educators; education departments; corporate social investors; parents; other government departments and corporate managers. Through on-going support and professional development, Edit Microsystems can help find the right solution for your particular environment.
Edit Microsystems have various branches around South Africa including Cape Town. You can contact them on: Tel: (0)21 433 2520 or email them at: info@editmicro.co.za. You can also visit them at their offices in Cape Town at: Unit 601,The Point Shopping Centre (Galleria), 76 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town, 8005 or visit their web site to find out more: www.editmicro.co.za
Please read the information below to find out more about these different types of Accessories & others, as well as some of the companies that supply them.
Alarm Clocks
There are a wide variety of different types of Talking Alarm Clocks which can assist Persons who are Blind or have Visual Impairments, to be able to tell the time and to be woken up. Many of these products are available in South Africa and are sold by Companies such as Edit Microsystems. These Alarm Clocks includes products such as the:
T21 Talking Alarm Clock with Spoken Temperature: This talking Alarm Clock is a compact unit with a clear LCD display that is back lit in green. The clear female voice speaks the time and the temperature in either Celsius or Fahrenheit. The talking Alarm Clock has a large button on the top which will activate the back lit display, the speech and the temperature. The alarm function has optional snooze and an hourly chime. One Company that sells this product in South Africa is Edit Microsystems you can contact them by clicking on the link to find out more or to purchase this product.
Dual Voice Single Button Clock: The dual voice single button clock is a small clock that is ideal for carrying around in your pocket or in the carry case provided. The clock speaks the time, the day, the date and the year. Users can choose announcements to be made in either a male or female voice. The time can be spoken in either a 12 or 24 hour format and it also announces the time of day. i.e. ‘In the morning’. The daily alarm function has a choice of ten different alarm sounds. The volume is adjustable and the function buttons are recessed to prevent accidental changing of the settings. This product can therefore be used as both a Alarm Clock or a simple Clock which can be carried around with you. One Company that sells this product in South Africa is Edit Microsystems you can contact them by clicking on the link to find out more or to purchase this product.
Talking Calendar Alarm Clocks
Some Talking Alarm Clocks also offer talking calendars, such as the following product provided by Edit Microsystems which is available in South Africa.
The Talking Calendar Alarm Clock: This Talking Calendar Alarm Clock is designed to be easy to use and quick to set. It comes with a removable cover that completely covers the buttons to protect them from accidental operations. The talking calendar alarm clock has a range of features. which include: A full reporting of the day, date and time and selectable reporting styles i.e. “Two thirty pm” or “Half past two”. A selectable hourly report and adjustable speech and alarm volumes are also available with a high speech quality. You can contact Edit Microsytems to find out more or receive a quote.
Braille Watches & Clocks
A Braille Watch is a portable timepiece used by Persons who are Blind, to be able to tell the time. It is used by touching the dial and noticing the embossments. Both analog and digital versions are available. The analog versions have a protective glass or crystal cover that is flipped open when time needs to be read and the clock-hands are constructed to not be susceptible to movement at the mere touch of the finger that a blind person uses to observe their positions. In the digital form, the dots (like braille script) keep changing position as time changes. To use this device you would need to be able to understand the Braille alphabet to read the watch. Some of these Assistive Devices are available from Organizations such as the South African National Council for the blind who stock two types of braille watches:
These Braille watches have raised hour markers for a tactile reading of the time and are in a silver or gold finishing. You can contact South African National Council for the blind to find out more or receive a quote.
Electronic talking watches, which speak the time at the touch of a button, are also popular among people who are blind.
Talking Watches
A talking watch gives verbal announcement of time using tiny voice chips that produce a synthesized, natural sounding speech. Most talking watches have a female voice, but watches with a male voice and dual voices have been introduced on the market and are gaining quick acceptance. There are a variety of different types and styles of these Talking Watches, which are sold in South Africa including the following which are sold by Edit Microsystems.
They include the:
W23 Gents/Ladies Gold Talking Calendar Alarm Watch: This talking wristwatch is designed for ease of use as it speaks the time, the date and it has an alarm function. The first press of the single button reads the time out and the second press of the button announces the time. The voice used is a clear, male voice. Pressing the recessed button together with the time button sets the watch functions. This means that the watch settings cannot be changed accidentally. The watch is available with either a brown or black strap or with a gold expanding bracelet strap. You can contact Edit Microsytems to find out more or receive a quote.
W10 Talking Calendar Stopwatch Alarm: This talking watch speaks the time and the day in a clear female voice. The watch has a stainless steel case and a large digital display. Four separate alarm times can be set and the stopwatch speaks the elapsed time automatically although it can be programmed to speak on demand only. The talking watch has an optional hourly chime. The Case dimensions are 39mm (W) x 50mm (H) x 0.66 (Thick) and this watch is powered by 1 x CR2016 Lithium battery (included). You can contact Edit Microsytems to find out more or receive a quote.
W15 Gents/Ladies Single Button Talking Wristwatch: This talking wristwatch speaks in a clear female voice and has been specifically designed for ease of use. By pressing a single button the talking wristwatch will speak the time. The buttons for the adjustment of the spoken time can be found on either side of the case. The buttons are recessed to prevent accidental operation. This talking wristwatch is available with either a leather strap or an expanding bracelet. In order to maintain simplicity this wristwatch does not have an alarm function or hourly report functions. You can contact Edit Microsytems to find out more or receive a quote.
W16 Talking Large Faced Watches: These talking watches have a clear analogue face that measures 36mm in diameter. At the touch of a button the time and date is announced in a clear female voice. The watch has 3 alarm sounds, an optional hourly report and a count down function. You can choose to have the time reporting in a 12 or 24 hour clock format. The watch is available in either a silver casing with a black face and white hands and numbers; or a gold casing with a white face and black hands and numbers. The watches are available with a black or brown leather strap or with an expanding bracelet strap. You can contact Edit Microsytems to find out more or receive a quote.
References
