Project iCare
My name is Mark Skelton and I am the ambassador for Talk Directs project iCare which was founded in April 2014. The aim of the project is to help the visually impaired community improve their daily lives with the help of digital technology, i.e. smartphone or tablet devices. I am very passionate about my role as I am registered blind myself and know only to well what a difference digital technology can make. If I didn't use a smart phone or tablet myself I would struggle to read a simple message or even write a short note. We have worked hard to make sure we can hopefully find a solution to help anyone with any level of visual impairment and have had some great success stories along the way.
In our stores we have an O2 Guru who has the technical knowledge on how to get the best out of a device so that people suffering from low vision can still communicate with family and friends. Simple options such as voice over functions and magnification settings can make a world of difference. They will also happily show people how to use apps that can increase the benefits of a device. For example, I use an app where I can download a talking book which is narrated by the author. On a standard phone I would not be able to do any of the above so making a simple phone call would be a huge struggle.
Since we started the project it has really helped people stay in contact and some of our clients have had secondary disabilities but we have always managed to find a solution for their needs. During the early period we have built up a great working relationship with Royal Society for the Blind, Yorkshire Guide Dogs and Action for the Blind. Our work with Action for the Blind saw Talk Direct be the first Yorkshire company ever win the 'see the capability not the disability award'. We currently visit all local visually impaired charities and support groups to show their service users just what we and technology can do to help them. These visits have proved tremendously popular and if you feel you may benefit from this service please get in touch.
Our main aim for the future is to continue working with these great companies and to provide support in our stores so the visually impaired can embrace technology so that it can help people in day to day life.
Blindroid - Recommended Android App
Our 02 guru from Keighley demonstrates how the Android app Blindroid works.
READ MOREApple App of the month - March 2016
Brendan our O2 guru at the Dewsbury store demonstrates how to use TapTapSee
READ MOREMark Skelton is interviewed about Project iCare
Talk Directs Mark Skelton is interviewed about Project iCare on BCB Community Radio.
READ MOREMark provides helping hand to partially-sighted customer
Talk Directs Mark Skelton helping others to see the possibilities of mobile phones.
READ MORETalk Direct a big success at Sight Tech
On Wednesday 17th of February we were invited to take part in an event held in Leeds called site tech.
READ MOREAndroid App of the month - Shine Plus
Our O2 guru Adam demonstrates how the Android app Shine Plus works.
READ MORETalk Direct Apple App of the month - Color ID
Callum our O2 guru at the Bridlington store demonstrates how easy the Apple Color ID app is to use.
READ MOREiCare to enlighten blind people with technology
A project initiated by a local O2 store brightens the lives of blind people with a smart phone which could be found in anyone’s pocket.
READ MORESpecial Enterprise Scheme - Sheffield
I was asked to sit on a panel recently by Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind and Sheffield Hallam University, and help judge a special enterprise scheme where children aged 10 to 11 had to come up with a new device that could help visually impaired people of any age.
READ MORETalk Direct's Mark Skelton visits the Doncaster partially sighted society
Talk Direct's Mark Skelton visits the Doncaster partially sighted society to help with other visually impaired people.
READ MOREHelping the Visually Impaired - VIDEO
Visually impaired Kimberly Burrows shows you how to take a photo on a ipad
READ MOREiCare Triumphs Again
A little extra care and attention to detail was all it took for Talk Direct to make a difference to Neil’s life.
READ MORE