Is There A Watch for the Blind? WoodWear Answers

A watch, either made of metal or wood, is an essential timekeeping device. Without this tool, it would be hard for you to know what time it is, affecting your day-to-day activities. You'll never know if you are too early or late for an appointment or an important event. Most of us wear a watch for timekeeping and fashion. But what about those who are visually-impaired? Is there a watch designed for the blind? WoodWear is here to answer.

A Watch for the Visually-Impaired

Unfortunately, some people cannot see due to several reasons. There are individuals who were born without a sense of sight. Others have suffered from an eye disorder or eye injury. Blindness can also be caused by age-related macular degeneration. Although visually-impaired people do limited actions, there are devices that they can use to help them in their daily lives. With modern technology, there's a watch that blind people can wear to keep them updated with time.

The Bradley Timepiece

You can find several watch brands that offer a watch for the visually impaired. Most of these timepieces are smartwatches that work more than a regular watch. For instance, you can find smartwatches that talk, giving blind people time updates. These accessories automatically update themselves to new time zones and Daylight Saving Time. Among the watches for the blind, the Bradley timepiece has been one of the most popular in the market.

What is the Bradley timepiece? What makes it ideal for those who have lost their sight?

The Bradley timepiece is a watch designed specifically for blind people. It is named after Bradley Snyder, a Paralympian gold medallist who lost his vision in Afghanistan. The watch features a stark, circular titanium face with no hands. Unlike a regular timepiece, it has no numbers. So how can blind people be updated with time? The design uses a center ball-bearing that rotates to mark the minutes. Around the watch edge, there's another ball spinning to tell hours.

What makes the Bradley timepiece a perfect watch?

As mentioned, there are talking smartwatches that help blind people in terms of timekeeping. But this feature could be disruptive. The design of the Bradley timepiece is simple yet effective for those who have sight problems. There are other options for watches aside from the Bradley timepiece, but its simplicity has caught many people's attention.

The Different Types of Watches for the Blind

Aside from the Bradley timepiece, there are several types of watches designed for blind people and those who have low vision. They come in various styles, colours, and sizes. They are usually categorized into three, including braille watches, talking watches, and those accessories with large bold numbers and letters.

Braille Watches

Braille may contain tactile embossments, allowing people with no vision to tell time through touch. The accessories can be analog or digital. Analog braille watches usually come with a protective cover, generally made of glass. It is flipped open to reveal the tactile embossments. The wearer can touch the embossments to know the time by a simple touch.

On the other hand, digital braille watches function differently than analog clocks. With these accessories, the placement of the dots continues to change position as the time changes. They require the wearer to be proficient in the braille alphabet to tell time. You can also find braille watches that double as talking watches. With this feature, the wearer can enjoy both an auditory and tactile option for telling time. Braille watches are designed generally for people who are legally blind.

Talking Watches

Several watch companies have produced talking watches that come in a variety of colours, shapes, and sizes. These accessories range from digital sports watches to rose-gold fashion watches. Some visually-impaired individuals prefer talking watches because, with the simple press of a button, the accessories can reveal the time, date, day, and year in an articulate human voice. Also, talking watches have advanced features. Usually, these timepieces are worn by people with visual limitations and needs.

Watches With Bold Numbers

The accessories feature large and bold numbers and letters, helping wearers who have poor vision. These watches come in a wide range of brands and styles and are available for both men and women.

Fashionable Watches as Gifts

Christmas is nearly coming. If you've got friends or loved ones who have lost their sight, you may give them a watch that is designed for them. A watch is a beautiful accessory that is both fashionable and functional. But don't forget to buy yourself too. There are thousands of watches available in the market today. To ensure that the timepiece is worth your purchase, consider buying a wooden watch. Wooden watches are stylish and eco-friendly. If you love the environment and support sustainable businesses, these accessories are a perfect option. Don't worry because they go well with any outfit and style.

Losing vision is something that no one would like. But due to unfortunate events like having a disease or traumatic injury, some individuals have lost their sense of sight. That's why it is hard for them to do the usual things they do, like being updated with time. Thankfully, some watch companies have designed a timepiece to help those who are visually impaired. These watches come in different styles and functionalities, giving them a lot of options.