How the iPhone Helped a Blind Person See Color

"I have seen a lot of technology for the blind, and I can safely say that the iPhone represents the most revolutionary thing to happen to the blind for at least the last ten years." That's what Austin Seraphin wrote, describing the experience of using his new iPhone app Color ID. It uses the iPhone's camera, and speaks names of colors....

I have never experienced this before in my life. I can see some light and color, but just in blurs. When I first tried it at three o'clock in the morning, I couldn't figure out why it just reported black. After realizing that the screen curtain also disables the camera, I turned it off, but it still have very dark colors. Then I remembered that you need light to see, and it probably couldn't see much at night. The next day, I went outside. I looked at the sky. I heard colors such as "Horizon," "Outer Space," and many shades of blue and gray. I used color queues to find my pumpkin plants, by looking for the green among the brown and stone. My mind felt blown.

I'm continually amazed at how much information my iPhone makes accessible to me, but for some other users, the revelations it contains are even greater.