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Project RISE gives increased independence to the blind and visually impaired

Published:Friday | January 10, 2020 | 12:25 AM
From left: Whitney Fennell, senior director – B2C Sales and Distribution, Flow Jamaica, explains the capabilities of the voice-enabled KaiOS mobile phone to Kamika Braithwaite, information and training officer at the Jamaica Society for the Blind (JSB), and Conrad Harris, executive director at the JSB.
Contributed
From left: Whitney Fennell, senior director – B2C Sales and Distribution, Flow Jamaica, explains the capabilities of the voice-enabled KaiOS mobile phone to Kamika Braithwaite, information and training officer at the Jamaica Society for the Blind (JSB), and Conrad Harris, executive director at the JSB.

Last year, telecommunications company FLOW introduced ‘Project RISE’, a complete mobile solution that boasts a voice-enabled smart mobile phone powered by a KaiOS system. The device offers a convenient and user-friendly Google Assist feature with LTE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity capabilities to give thousands of visually impaired Jamaicans an opportunity to participate in the digital era. Two cameras, a radio and a flashlight activated by voice command are just some features of the mobile phone.

“The FLOW RISE package has returned a semblance of our independence. With this voice-enabled device, we [the blind and visually impaired] won’t have to feel shy asking people to call or text on our behalf because we can now do it ourselves,” said Daemion Nelson, chairman of the board of directors for the Jamaica Society for the Blind (JSB) while speaking at a recent meeting of the JSB membership with members from FLOW Jamaica.

Nelson highlighted that most of the blind and visually impaired community are unemployed and unable to afford traditional mobile services. “With over 28,000 Jamaicans completely blind, 80,000 who are visually impaired along with senior citizens who are losing their sight, a large portion of our community is unemployed and unable to utilise or afford smartphones, or their accompanying mobile plans – the FLOW RISE package is different and caters to our needs.”

RISE PACKAGE

FLOW donated several KaiOS mobile phones, under Project RISE, to JSB attendees at the meeting and to facilitate the training of its membership. The company has also committed to continued dialogue with the JSB to improve its offerings to the blind and visually impaired community.

“The RISE package was designed with our consumers in mind, specifically the visually impaired, blind, senior citizens and people who do not feel confident enough to handle a traditional smartphone,” stated Whitney Fennell, senior director – B2C Sales and Distribution, FLOW Jamaica.

He continued, “Project RISE allows us to bridge the digital divide in an inclusive way which ensures that all Jamaicans can enjoy the world of possibilities that the Internet represents.”