Reflection of Research Thus Far (4/6/2010)

After completing all of my research thus far, I can conclusively prove one thing. Researchers and writers are completely divided on my issue of how digital technology impacts the visually impaired. My specific question is basically to find out if technology can actually be a good thing for the blind and literacy. The conversation has been very interesting so far. Many researchers write pages and pages of data and examples that prove that digital literacy is a good thing for the visually impaired. For example, Ted Hasselbring and Candyce Williams Glaser (http://www.jstor.org/stable/1602691?seq=14) present an entire table filled with many different technologies that help the blind learn like everyone else with computers. Among the list are Computer Screen Magnifiers and Descriptive Video Services. Other researchers like Anne Morris and Helena Brading argue that, "Visual impairment, strokes and Parkinson’s disease, for example, can all be barriers to using technology" (http://jil.lboro.ac.uk/ojs/index.php/JIL/article/view/RA-V1-I3-2007-2/30).

I have not had any trouble finding research to answer my question, and support my theory, that technology can actually help the blind. However, there are a few problems with the research I have found. One problem is that many times the researcher does not take a definitive stand for either side of the issue. For example a researcher will provide proof that technology creates a roadblock for the blind, but in a later paragraph will list all of the helpful technologies that assist the blind. I feel this is a weak stance for a writer to take, but as long as the information is credible I can use it for my research. Another problem is the age of the research. Technology is changing every single day, and it is difficult for research to keep up. Research quoted from the 1980's will be outdated for the conversation in 2010. This means that as a researcher myself I have to watch to see when something was published, and judge its validity from that.

Overall the research process is going well and there is an abundance of information. Even thought I have to judge my information carefully, it is very easy to find the necessary information I need. My topic is coming along nicely, and my research question is becoming more and more defined with each new research article I find.