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My Journey with Technology

Written by Rick Scotcher, Vision Norfolk Service User

23rd October 2026

My name is Rick. I lost most of my sight around four years ago, at the age of 76, due to advanced glaucoma.

I had always had a mobile phone, and I always saw it as a necessity to stay in contact whilst on the move, but with my failing sight I struggled to see the screen and find the buttons.

I have never been too interested in technology. If I can be honest, I’d say sometimes I’m frightened of it, of doing something wrong or even breaking it, but I have been repeatedly assured this can’t happen.

I was told switching to a smartphone would be the best way. My daughter sold me her old iPhone, and I started getting to grips with it. Vision Norfolk has sessions that provide help for us to learn how to use our phones in the best way. I had great help working one-to-one basis with one of their dedicated volunteers. With time and support I’ve learned to think of my new phone as a friend.

All I needed was the confidence to try and with the support from the team, I started to explore the new world that my phone can offer me.

The most difficult thing for me was being able to see where I needed to touch on the screen to operate the phone. But with my smartphone I’m able to talk to it and listen to its response. Using spoken commands, I can tell my phone to call my daughter, or call for a taxi, or even find out what the weather will be tomorrow. No more fumbling for a button!

There are also free apps which I installed on my phone. My two favourites are called Be My Eyes and Seeing AI. I can ask the phone to open one of these apps to help me read a newspaper, describe a scene, identify what label is on a tin and more.

At the age of 80 I must admit I’m a bit of a slow learner but once I understood the very basics, and practiced some of the features I was told about, I have definitely been able to lead a richer and more fulfilling life.

Vision Norfolk demonstrate many kinds of mobile phones which all do some of what I have described. I would ask everyone reading this just to consider what you might be missing by not trying this technology.

I even used my phone to write this story, by using speech-to-text and then sending it by email!