Key insights from Part One of the JVIB Special Issue on Emerging Innovations for People With Visual Impairments.
What if the technology innovations that are designed for the few ultimately redefine the experience for the many? That’s the central premise of a compelling new commentary by Sean Tikkun, of North Carolina Central University, on the future of technology for individuals who are blind or have low vision. Far from being a niche market, the Comment argues that the future of broader technology is "inextricably tied" to the development of assistive technology.
Included in Part One of the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB) 2025 Special Issue on Advancements and Innovations in Technology for Individuals With Visual Impairments, guest edited by Stacy M. Kelly, Northern Illinois University, the commentary written by Dr. Tikkun points to a powerful historical pattern: Tech solutions originally developed for the blind community have become fundamental to the modern lives of all consumers. One example is Jim Fruchterman’s 2004 prediction, in a previous JVIB special issue on technology, that Apple’s iPhone would become accessible to people with visual impairments:
When it was released, by Apple, in 2007, the iPhone did not fulfill Fruchterman’s vision until . . . about two years later. With this accessible device, the broad availability of wayfinding and navigation, spearheaded by Sendero Group and Michael May, was realized. These technologies are the backbone of consumer technology use today.
These “solutions for individuals who are blind or have low vision” spearheaded the broad availability of accessible wayfinding and navigation tools for consumers.
Looking ahead, the Comment identifies two paths for innovation. One follows the standard consumer market, where accessibility typically lags adoption by one to two years. The other, more exciting, path involves tech developed for individuals with visual impairments that rapidly evolves into applications for all consumers regardless of their abilities.
Dr. Tikkun also discusses major breakthroughs that are on the horizon for independent travel, a "renaissance" in tactile displays, autonomous vehicles, "smart cities," and the crucial role of human professionals in AI development—to test, troubleshoot, teach, and apply such technology to meet the unique needs of people with visual impairments.
Learn more by reading Wearable Devices, Fully Automated Vehicles, and Smart Cities: The Future of Technology, by Sean Tikkun.
About the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB)
Funded by a generous gift from Marilyn and Francine Gruder, JVIB is the international, peer-reviewed journal of record in the field of blindness and low vision. JVIB delivers current research and best practice information, and commentary from authoritative experts on critical topics. Practitioners and researchers, policymakers and administrators, counselors and advocates rely on JVIB for its delivery of cutting-edge research and the most up-to-date practices in the field of blindness and low vision. Learn more at afb.org/jvib.
