by Daniel Parker, RDPFS Intern
The CES 2023 conference, a major technology industry event held last week, featured a number of accessibility and assistive technology exhibits. The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which develops CES, created its own accessibility awards presentation in collaboration with USA Today, with information coming later about award recipients. Another session focused on the potential for artificial intelligence to improve the lives of those with disabilities. Accessibility for the individuals who are visually impaired at CES even received attention in an article in the Wall Street Journal, exploring everything from low vision glasses that offer close captions to accessible games. accessibility.com also offers a post about the accessible innovations announced at CES, two of which focus on low vision. The first is, eSight Go, wearable glasses intended to aid those with central vision loss. eSight devices are “used by thousands of people across the globe with over twenty different eye conditions.” Available starting in the fourth quarter of this year, the device has a 45-degree field of view meant to enhance the usability of peripheral vision, with customizable color and contrast settings. eSight Go at CES 2023 was also mentioned in this AT Today press release. The second item for users with low vision included in the blog post is Samsung’s Relumino Mode. Already featured in some Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets and set to be available on Samsung televisions later this year, it is designed to “enhance the viewing experience for people with limited or low vision. The feature incorporates intuitive camera technology that can highlight outlines, adjust brightness and contrast, enhance colors, and sharpen the content for a better and more comfortable TV-viewing experience.” You can find much more information in the links above. The accessibility.com post concludes by stating, “With over 3,000 exhibitors and 115,000 attendees, CES 2023 was an impactful international platform for companies to exhibit their accessibility and inclusivity-based innovations. As more innovators try to modify and expand their product ranges to address the needs of people with disabilities, there is no doubt that we can expect to see more such solutions go mainstream in the coming years.”
