Vol: 15, Issue: 1 2025

Page: 35-40

Navigating the Intersection of Visual Impairment & Artificial Intelligence: A Deep Dive into Empowerment, Prospects & Future Challenges

Dr Raut Nikita, Latey Sameer

Received Date: 2025-01-20

Accepted Date: 2025-03-04

Published Date: 2025-03-07

http://doi.org/10.37648/ijtbm.v15i01.004

The ongoing developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have created the possibility of developing new solutions to increase accessibility, autonomy, and inclusion for Visually Impaired (VI) individuals. In this paper, we have tried to visualize possible AI-assisted solutions in the fields of education, employment, and independent living. Artificial Intelligence can provide accessible interactive learning products that would raise the overall quality of the learning experience of VI students and greatly improve their learning outcomes. In addition, these products will make it possible for VI students to pursue areas of study that are considered out-of-bounds due to a lack of accessible educational material. AI-powered screen readers and voice-controlled interfaces in the workplace can enhance accessibility in the workplace enabling the VI employees to compete for jobs on par with their sighted counterparts and enable them to access a wider range of job opportunities. But the development of AI is a double-edged sword and if care is not taken, the developments in Artificial Intelligence can result in further marginalization of VI individuals. In the second part of this paper, we have suggested steps or precautions to be taken to ensure that the negative effects are minimized. These precautions include taking care that the training material used to train AI tools is free of biases against persons with visual impairment, integrating inclusive development principles in the development of AI tools right from the inception stage, and ensuring that the AI tools are affordable.

References

• Ahmed, N., & Imran, M. (2020). 'Artificial Intelligence Applications for Visual Impairment: A Survey.' IEEE Access, 8, 106370-106388.
• Alvarez, A., & Lema, F. (2021). 'Assistive technologies and the impact of AI on accessibility.' Journal of Accessibility and Design for All.
• Bigham, J. P., & Ladner, R. E. (2013). 'Accessibility for blind web users: an evaluation of web accessibility tools.' Proceedings of the 15th international ACM SIGACCESS conference on Computers and accessibility
• Duarte, E., & Lima, P. (2021). 'Challenges of using AI to assist visually impaired individuals: Lessons from practice.' International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 37(1), 1-19.
• Stark, R. (2020). 'AI-based solutions for blind and visually impaired individuals: A comprehensive overview.' The International Journal of Technology and Disability, 35(2), 100-115.
• Sullivan, M. T., & Brown, L. J. (2020). 'Artificial Intelligence and the Blind: New Developments in Technology for Vision Impairment.' Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness.
• World Health Organization (2021). 'World Report on Vision.'