iTunes 8 and the iPod is now to become easily usable for those without eyesight. Apple is working with Massachusetts to use technology from the Mac OS X, specifically voiceover technology. This is to be pointed in an effort to make the iPod and iTunes systems easily usable by the visually handicapped.

Even earlier Apple had been making efforts to make the iPod usable by the blind. Closed captioning for the iPod and Apple TV as well as voiceover and Braille support for the OS X have been put into action. However Apple is going further in it’s effort to make the iPod accessible to the blind.
In the 4G nano, there is a tool to help with audio navigation namely an optional spoken interface. In the new hardware there will be blind friendly features like shake to shuffle function. With the new mic integrated headphones, vocal commands can be received. By the end of the year Apple is to make iTunes 8 and iTunes U completely accessible to the blind.

In addition Apple is donating $250,000 for the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind. Now this gives one a really good feeling about Apple. PR or not, they are doing good.