In Barcelona, blind and visually impaired residents are using typhlotechnology, including smart glasses and AI-powered apps, to support daily independence. The tools are helping with tasks at home, on the street and online.
Marisol Bilbao, an ONCE affiliate, uses smart glasses to choose her clothes. She activates the glasses, asks a question, and a voice describes the pattern, colour and texture of her garments. The glasses are not designed specifically for blind people, but she says they have become a key tool for greater autonomy.
Bilbao also uses the free BeMyEyes app, which connects users with volunteers or AI to describe objects, read documents and help with orientation in unfamiliar places. She uses VoiceOver, the screen reader built into Apple devices, to use WhatsApp, and a Braille line device to connect with her computer or mobile phone.
Enric Botí, ONCE’s delegate in Catalonia, told Infobarris that typhlotechnology opens doors when it is well designed and accessible. He said ONCE supports inclusive technology because it creates opportunities and helps people live in equality. When accessibility is not considered, he warned, new barriers can appear.
ONCE offers training in different technologies that support daily life, from reading digital books and shopping to going to the theatre, managing medical appointments and keeping in touch with friends. The organisation says accessible tools can make a practical difference, but they must work alongside safe mobility with a cane or a guide dog. Vanessa González, an ONCE typhlotechnology and Braille instructor, said a Braille line reads what appears on screen in a structured way, which is essential for blind and deafblind users.
For readers following accessibility and civic tech coverage in Catalonia, see our news tag for more local reporting. For official information on the organisations and tools mentioned, visit ONCE, Be My Eyes and Apple VoiceOver support.
