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INDEPENDENT LIVING
All we want to do is give you OUR money!
DISABLED people face daily frustration when trying to buy the goods or services they need.
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Nine out of 10 said a lack of choice and too little information, often poorly presented, all made making a purchase more difficult, new research has found.
And more than two out of five consumers said they had abandoned a shopping task without making a purchase, according to the Business Disability Forum.
Diane Lightfoot, head of the BDF, said: “Businesses cannot afford to overlook the needs and spending habits of disabled consumers.
“Yet, too often, disabled people face limited choice, increased costs, or even difficulty finding the goods and services they want and need. ” Among other findings were:
n When making in-person purchases,
barriers most commonly mentioned were access into the shop (40%), insufficient sales staff available to help (54%), space to move around (52%), and placement of items (47%).
And for those shopping online, the barriers included:
n Confusing routes through the
website or app (45%).
n Accessibility issues (42%).
Read lips through face masks
MAJOR STEP: The next generation of hearing aids
Nowhearthis
An international team of engineers and computing scientists has developed the technology, which pairs radio-frequency sensing with artificial intelligence for the first time.
The system could also help tackle the “cocktail party effect” – a common issue with traditional hearing aids.
Currently, hearing aids amplify all ambient sounds around them, which can be helpful in many aspects of everyday life. However, in noisy situations, like a party, it can be hard for hearing aids users to focus on conversation with a particular person.
One potential solution to the cocktail party effect is to make “smart” hearing aids, which combine conventional audio amplification with a second device to collect extra information.
While other researchers have had success using cameras to aid lip reading, collecting video footage of people without their consent raises privacy concerns. Cameras are also unable to read lips through masks, an everyday challenge as people wear face coverings for cultural, religious or health purposes.
The University of Glasgow-led team’s system preserves privacy by collecting only radio-frequency data, with no accompanying video footage.
The team’s leader, Dr QammerAbbasi, from the university’s James Watt School of Engineering, said the technology “could be another major step in improving hearingimpaired people’s quality of life” .
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Easy-use computer vision ‘on the way’
VISION: Left, Jean Marc Feghali, WeWALK’s head of research and development, with founder and CEO Gökhan Meriçliler
. . . nowseethis
WORK is under way on a device that could improve the lives of up to a billion visually impaired and older people worldwide.
UK experts have received £1.7million to help develop easy-to-use computer vision that will allow people to overcome mobility challenges – from catching the right bus to navigating the busiest streets.
Those leading the work say it has the potential to enhance the lives of up to 250m visually impaired and 700m older people globally by improving access to the spaces where we live, work, and play.
UK company WeWALK has joined forces on the project with sight loss charity RNIB and Imperial College London.
Professor Washington Ochieng, from Imperial College, said the project “will enable us to turn the dream of a seamless fully automated navigation system into a reality and transform the quality of life for visually impaired and elderly people.
“Throughout this project, we will be using some of the most sophisticated sensing and analytics technology. ”
WeWALK’s software-enabled products have already improved mobility for people with visual impairments. The Smart Cane uses a front-mounted ultrasonic sensor that detects obstacles and warns users with vibration feedback.
Kürsat Ceylan, co-founder of WeWALK, said: “Computer vision has limitless potential in solving mobility problems experienced by visually impaired and older people. ” n The funding has come from UK
Research and Innovation, a Government body.
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT . . .Business & IP Centre, Liverpool City Region
How we can help YOU to or start grow EXPERT help and advice all at your fingertps your business
HAVE you got an idea to start a business? Are you wondering what’s involved in being self-employed?
Do you need help to grow and existing business?
Did you know that you can access a huge range of resources at the Business & IP Centre (BIPC) in Liverpool Central Library?
BIPCs are a free service designed to support anyone who wants to start or grow a business. Many people with disabilities run successful enterprises –some are not for profit, some are charities, others are small business or sole trading operations right through to multi-million-pound companies.
BIPCs offer a wide range of resources and a comfortable, welcoming space with free wi-fi in which to work on your business.
If you have an idea and you want to protect it, you can access professional legal advice around copyrights, trade marks or patents.
For anyone writing a business plan or researching a market there are free databases providing up-to-theminute market trends and information.
You can download industry guides and explore all sorts of opportunities such as running your own pub, consultancy, café or restaurant or starting up an online business.
There are how-to guides on everything from fashion, art, wellbeing and personal fitness to food, music, technology, hospitality and much more.
n Liverpool Central Library is a fully accessible venue. n The BIPC team is friendly and approachable with a genuine passion for helping entrepreneurs. n Since being set up in 2015 over 6,000 people have benefited from BIPC support. n There are weekly drop-in advice clinics in the library and a fantastic programme of online and physical events take place on a wide range of topics which are all free.
n BIPC Liverpool is part of a national network led by the British Library in London and part-funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Last year BIPC Locals were opened across Liverpool and in St Helens, Sefton, Knowsley, Wirral and Halton. n If you would like to find out more about how
BIPC Liverpool can help you with your business idea, email libraries.enquiries@liverpool.gov.uk or call 0151 233 5835 / 0151 351 1735
n Twitter @BIPCLiverpool n liverpool.gov.uk/bipc
