"Digital Privacy of Smartphone Camera-Based Assistive Technology for Users With Visual Disabilities"
There are significant privacy concerns regarding using smartphones with camera-based assistive technology. Visually impaired users who rely on this technology for facial recognition and object identification may expose themselves and others to compromise if malicious actors take over their device, connections, or software. Hyung Nam Kim of North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina, wrote in the International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics about user perspectives and the current state of digital privacy issues. He conducted a small-scale survey of visually impaired users of this technology and related applications. The survey found that very few visually impaired users were knowledgeable about the privacy policies and potential risks associated with the use of assistive technology. In addition, they were generally unaware of the potential problems related to privacy and security breaches. Kim's research aims to help form a conceptual framework that researchers and professionals in this field could use to provide better support and education for those with visual impairment relying on this technology. This article continues to discuss the research on promoting privacy for camera-based assistive technology.