Healthcare Information Needs of the Visually Impaired. Bridging the Visual Impairment Digital Disability Divide

Masters Thesis from the year 2017 in the subject Computer Science - Internet, New Technologies, grade: 4, language: English, abstract: The focus of this research is to develop an understanding of how visually impaired people face a digital disability divide. The scope of this research is limited to people with visual impairments who may or may not have access to technology. The research shows how to bridge the divide while exploring relevant topics that lead to the conception of feasible solutions. Further, it will contribute to the development of more socially inclusive healthcare information systems. The research is supported by a thorough literature review of articles, journals, and research reports dealing with the major relevant topics. A qualitative research method was used to identify and obtain an in-depth understanding of the healthcare information accessibility (HCIA) barriers that visually impaired people face, and the factors involved in the creation of these barriers. Moreover, a quantitative method was used to collect primary data, and a number of different analysis methods were used to produce results. This led to findings that were generalized to the larger population of the visually impaired. The research shows that, despite the staggering advances in information and communication technology (ICT), the healthcare information needs of the visually impaired are not being met. However, it has also been discovered that the digital divide caused by visual impairment can be mitigated with intelligent design and the realization of information systems intended to fulfill the healthcare information needs of the visually impaired. A logical information system is needed that has a combination of input, back-end, and output assistive technologies with increased social inclusion and the capability to empower visually impaired people and help them access available healthcare information.