IntellectBeat

A touchscreen tablet, such as Apple's iPad, can be beneficial to people suffering from vision loss or visual impairments, a Canadian study has found. The device can be as effective as a traditional visual aid, but is less costly and is free from any associated stigma. Apple's famous tablet has several advantages, including helping people suffering from vision loss see and read information more easily, researchers at Canada's Concordia University have found. The study is the first experimental evidence of its kind. Concordia's researchers selected 100 participants aged 24 to 97, just over half of whom were suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD or ARMD). This degenerative disease affects the central area of the retina, leading to the progressive loss of central vision. This makes certain tasks, such as reading, more difficult. While there's currently no treatment that can restore sight in ARMD patients, several visual aids are on the market to help s...