Bitcoin Forum

We usually prioritize how keeping our keys safe and personal is crucial for the safety of our coins, but how can the visually impaired keep safe something that they cannot see. The entire thought of it is very disheartening that it may even be discouraging for any of such a person if after managing to agree to be a part of crypto, they now hear that they may never be able to secure their crypto. What can we suggest to these individuals (the visually impaired) who have an interest in bitcoins and crypto so that they don't loose interest?  Have you met any visually impaired individual in crypto, how do they manage to go about with it?

For people that are not visually impaired, noncustodial wallet should be used.

I do not know other way to go than the visually impaired person to use his bank to buy bitcoin, you can do that in some Western countries, but some countries do not allow bank to get involved in crypto.

I will not advice noncustodial wallet because the person still trust someone to help him keep the coins, noncustododial should be trustless and not suitable for visually impaired person.

I will not suggest exchanges, regardless of anything, exchanges should be avoided.

I'm confused as to why this is a topic the Internet and computers are extremely accessible and are built for that.

Some of the cryptospace will probably be inaccessible to people with different disabilities but most of it won't be - and for developers it might be as simple as seeing if they can download and use text to speech on their app.

Most exchanges are built of websites which are very easy to adapt and feed into other programs to be viewed more optimally for the user (there are on screen magnifiers on most devices and there are also usbc/USB braille readers that can be used for adapting information - I've no idea how blind people actually use these to navigate round computers but I've watched some do it with great proficiency and at very fast paces).

There are typewriter style machines that could also handle writing down mnemonics for producing paper backups (the bumps should stay if the paper is protected and even if they don't, they just become holes - they don't fade like ink does).

I suppose you can say the same thing about computers and digital banking system since in terms of usage there is no difference between bitcoin and them.
It shouldn't be that difficult to add voice commands to a bitcoin wallet either. All it takes is to add some open source packages for that to a popular wallet like Electrum so that it can convert everything they need to do (setting amount, fee, etc.) to voice and also respond to voice commands.

Interesting idea. By the way is there any platform that have tried this out or has been in the alpha stage? I think OPs concern is really worth looking at if we think about it. There are some visually impaired whose interest on bitcoin are probably in demand but the lack of proper platform or tools are missing.

This, and like 99999 other internet services lol. It was described as if bitcoin/crypto is the only sort of "service" that the visually impaired can't easily use.

As for the solution: get a trusted family member to help you, just like how the visually impaired need a helping hand with a lot of other stuff.

Back in the year 2017, there is an individual who created a specialized open source bitcoin wallet that is designed for visually impaired bitcoin communities^[1]. And it uses some sort of braille display and an audio for the person to control the device. However, the project itself appears to be dead and its website is no longer accessible.

While the developer seems to abandoned the project, the developer nonetheless produced a braille version^[2] of the bitcoin whitepaper.   :o

[1] https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/icywallet-offers-cold-storage-bitcoin-wallet-visually-impaired
[2] https://github.com/neatnik/braille-bitcoin-whitepaper

I have absolutely no clue what was written here but I think you guys can get some useful information from their archived github
- https://web.archive.org/web/20201113132658/https://github.com/neatnik/icywallet

isn't life itself hard if one is visually impaired, what crypto got to do with anything?

They can use the abundance of screen readers and other accessibility software that is available on all major operating systems. Generally, if these see any text, or input controls anywhere, the screen readers pronounce it out loud (with the exception of passwords, but I'd assume that people already invented a method to deal with that - at least for Windows passwords at first. Perhaps a braille keyboard for english letters). I don't see the problem here?

It is sad to think OP that there are such situations. Here among us, there are visually impaired people who are helped by government agencies to get a job. They have their organization of massage therapists. I noticed someone when my mother once took me with her when she availed of their service, that one of them, despite his disability, is a fan of technology, and is the geek type. I saw that he was using a smartphone even though he was completely blind, I just didn't know what to call the software he was using, maybe a screen reader or text-to-speech tool and I admired him. But I just don't know if he also knows about cryptocurrency, it's been a long time, a few years ago.

So today, I searched the internet to see how there are people like this who are interested in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. I read this story of Michael Staffen, he also had a visual impairment and he was one of the supporters of Bitcoin in 2014, Bitcoin-QT was the wallet he used then and he said he couldn't do anything because he only used a screenreader, he couldn't even access like send/receive a coin, fortunately, he has a sister who is also a Bitcoin enthusiast who helps him. It was also mentioned that he was hired by Coindesk to be a beta tester who will make the wallet usable for those like him, the wallet referred to here is MultiBit, but as far as I know, it was deprecated in 2017. I also found nothing news about him.

Bitcoin 'Needs to be More Accessible for the Visually Impaired' (https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2014/01/10/bitcoin-needs-to-be-more-accessible-for-the-visually-impaired)

One difference is that with traditional financial systems, there is a centralized entity that could invalidate a wrongly sent transaction by a visually impaired person, for example. If they lose their card, their online banking account, forget their logins, etc., there are ways to help them. If they make the same mistake when sending Bitcoin or storing their private information, there is no one to turn to due to the nature of the system.   

I've thought of having that "trust" to the closest person of that visually impaired person. But it's not the solution on this matter, is it possible that Braille system would be integrated to wallets for them to trust no one and they're the only one that can access their private keys?

Hopefully in the near future, there will be developers that would have develop something like this but has direct access to the wallet and funds/private key of the visually impaired investors.

I have a friend who is visually impaired and I know a couple of others. One thing I can say is that they do not want to be reliant on the sighted to do everything for them. 

I agree with the OP that Cryptocurrency does not offer equal opportunity to the visually impaired. Since the Multibit and Icy Wallet for the Blind was created in 2014 and 2017, I haven't seen any article on the internet where the visually impaired described their experience with it.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be that much work done in general for visually impaired people. There are small and abandoned works such as the bitcoin paper in Braille (https://github.com/neatnik/braille-bitcoin-whitepaper), some small work done by Multibit wallet which was forgotten after the wallet itself died. There also appears to have been a hardware wallet called IcyWallet that was supposed to use voice commands and Braille to help the visually impaired after the developer saw a reddit post (https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/1ufacn/bitcoin_wallets_are_inaccessible_for_blind_people/) but its website doesn't open anymore: https://icywallet.com/
Others are generally using screen readers which sometimes don't work on bitcoin wallets like Electrum (https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/issues/4637) and cause some problems.

I see some tried out but in the end died out. This is probably due to lower number of user base of impaired people whom actually wanted to do or try out bitcoin. Those company must be interested but due to lack of funding and interest its not work out.

Im thinking if Government would found this useful and funded it but since some disagree on crypto might be not possible. Surely some deep pocketed people would see this also as not profitable if ever they tried out to support. Well I knew Elon is a self enthusiast when it comes to innovation maybe somehow or someday he could see this situation for some out visually impaired people abd extend some help or support.

Well in my experience when open source software lacks a certain functionality it is either because the developers are very busy with other things that means they don't have enough time for said features or in most cases there is little to no demand for that feature. For example we have to see issues being opened in each of these project's repositories and then receive some support for the dev to implement it. So far there has been a handful of requests that mostly went unnoticed which shows very low demand hence low priority.

Actually you are right but if they have some offered to develop or in an agreement to create and improve something for that particular feature then they will have time for that no matter what regardless of the demand or little to none since probably those guys are the one who will make some marketing or introduce that for attracting users and those who are need the platform.

If there are solutions for visually impaired to use computer, Internet, there are ways for them to use Bitcoin wallet, make transactions and so on. They have disadvantage and I can not imagine how they can verify wallet before they feel safe to use it. They will have to rely and supporting software and it brings more risk than normal people.

If you can see how Stephen Hawking with serious ALS can use computer, write books and discuss with others, visually impaired can use Bitcoin with some advanced support. At this moment, I don't see we have that support for them but in future, I think they will have it.

Exactly. How many restrictions exist in the world for blind people. But they still agree with it. There are areas where the blind will not feel disadvantaged in any way, and there is nothing to worry about if they cannot use bitcoin. The land will not stop there for them. It's much safer than controlling your voice while someone else can hear and even having an assistant. If bitcoin wallet is called its own bank, then it should remain its own.

Is there any wallet or service that offers the ability to write wallet seeds in Braille or one of the languages for people with special needs? I don't think things are difficult, and when there is an increase in adoption, the technology is ready and there is a lot of open source code just waiting for someone to compile it together or use several programs at the same time.

I made a smile google and found bitcoin white paper in Braille  https://bitcoin.org/files/bitcoin-paper/bitcoin-braille.pdf

Not to wonder anymore as to whether we like it or not, we all can't have an equal opportunity, yet we can't say they are hopeless enough not to have a chance as they can have in the other way. In fact, even those normal people already have a bigger chance but they still neglected it and ignore it. Even though we want but can't imagine how hard is it in their situation knowing that they live uncomfortably makes this thing isn't suitable for them. I think, there is something that is really for them, we don't need to add burden to these visually impaired.

I once made a thread about this here: Bitcoin investment is limited (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5320979.msg56469140#msg56469140), in my beginner phase on the forum. It was really sad to have come by this limitation to the system but, it seems that's the way it is. Unfortunately, there are many more systems for which they aren't familiar too as per what ever that has got to be displayed on a screen. It doesn't rest all on bitcoin or cryptocurrencies and there isn't a way to cut them in.

That's why, it's necessary that we still ought to have fiat currencies in operation along side cryptos. To eliminate the idea of monopoly to the system and give people the idea of choice. It's It's crypto is about right, freewill. Hence, fiat is a good fill up on crypto limitations.

That's probably the best solution for that. Voice command is still not proven fully effective unless there is someone who is willing to assist you on that. But if you look for a reliable family member, you will be at ease because aside that your account is safe, you will also be guided on what to do to increase the profits of your investment. That's the essence of having a trusted family member. Even if you are visually impaired, you can still act as normal because you have another reliable eyesight that can be able to sustain your crypto investment.

It is not every visually impaired individual that is born blind, there are many illnesses that can cause blindness. There are people that have already invested in or is using Bitcoin for financial transaction that might go blind due to sickness. This would be a devastating experience if they don't have the means to access Bitcoin independently. There have to be a means of improving the access and privacy of these disadvantaged people in their quest to use Bitcoin.

The main reason why the visually challenged are not given attention in the Bitcoin space is because no rich or influential supported of Bitcoin is blind. If Micheal Saylor or Barry Silbert becomes visually impaired, funds would be released for research and development for friendly software or hardware for the blind. It is a general practice for the rich to support issues that affects them. 

I guess it's very hard to secure and keep safe his investments if the investor alone is visually impaired. Our eyes are our the biggest asset to help us see things clearly so that we can refrain from doing such mistakes. However, if an investor has its own disability, i guess that won't be a total hindrance not to invest and earn crypto. What is the use of our family?  They are there to help us and aid us in everything we want to do and achieve. It only takes a trusted member so we can still pursue our crypto dreams and succeed in it.

You might got a point then prove me rights that there should be money flowing and having client like those whose name you mentioned will technically be given a priority. But thats unfortunate cause we neer to wait for some guys like them to be like that in order to give or serve many a paltform intended for that kidn of circumstances.

Cryptocurrency is not create equal opportunity for even the visual as well. It is only those who are interested are using the currency online to transact goods and services. You private key which is also known as seed phrase is s only meant for the user and it is not good to share with any person, so if some is visually impaired then I don't think person can use bitcoin but if the person is very much interested to use bitcoin, then he or she must has a trusted assistance who will not defraud him or her in any way. Then probably the visually impaired Personel has a good knowledge about bitcoin, in that case the impaired will be telling the assistant what to do for him. The seed phrase of the impaired is not safe at all because the assistance can do and undo.

Since they are using fiat currency for goods and services, they can also use bitcoin from the method used in fiate currency.

Life itself isn't fair. For the disabled, they are already -1 by default and not only in crypto. That is why anyone not disabled must try to him the disabled at anytime. The technology is not left out, almost everything is designed in consideration of the deformed. The screen readers, screen magnifier, text to speech, speech to text are all technologies embedded in our daily life endeavours to assist the disabled.

Even with the availability of these helping tools, the blind should have someone he/she trusts who will always serve as their eyes. This is absolutely necessary.

Being visually impaired may be considered a hindrance for someone who aims to hone his skills in cryptocurrency trading or investing. However, if we can entrust someone to do it for us, someone that is already trusted, I think we can still be successful in crypto. Because the truth is, no one is being deprived from crypto opportunities, all is fair in crypto, it’s just that you have to be good in it for you not to end in failure and lose your money.

Although there may be any ways to come up and to ease them in operating their activities in crypto, I am wondering how to check that the information that they are doing or using is actually true. They may not be able to crosscheck gain whether the wallet address has been true without any mistakes, or the trading pairs or nominal has been true when trading activities. ANd many more activities in the crypto space. Although this may be similar with how they access the internet system so far, in crypto, there may be some different situations, in which they need more details.
In ths case, they will need an asiistance from other peole to be able to assist them and check whether what they are doing is actually true. But, itis the difficulty, they must find the trusted one to do it.