Why are Blind People Pursuing a Drivable Car?
Initially, the idea that the NFB would be interested in developing such a car seems contradictory. The nonprofit organization stresses that blindness, with proper training and tools, can be reduced to a nuisance. The fact that blind people travel independently without driving is often used to illustrate the human capacity for finding alternative ways to accomplish goals. The Blind Drivers Challenge (BDC) is not looking for a quick fix for basic mobility. The primary motivation is the belief in the inestimable value of scientific research. Office workers using scanners are already benefiting from technology developed to enable blind people to access print. Nonetheless, there is a gap between nonvisual access technology and general technology. In an interview with Suite 101, Riccobono said that in an effort to be sleek and visually appealing, technology is moving in a direction which reduces accessibility for everyone. Modern engineering is more strongly biased toward visual access than
