Dear Renuka,
Thank you for taking the time to provide your detailed point of view. What I appreciate the most about your reply is that you acknowledged the crux of the problem—the fundamental need for tactile accessibility—and did not attack me for my own views and opinions on the subject. Your insights regarding the practical limitations of the MANI app, particularly for visually impaired shopkeepers and the issue of coin identification, are incredibly valid. I agree that accessibility should be a cornerstone of universal design rather than a "special" accommodation. It is a compelling point that better, tactile-focused design would serve the broader population just as much as the visually impaired community. We certainly need a more robust and systemic approach to address these daily disruptions. However, as I mentioned in my earlier thread, I personally find that these types of conversations often feel like a thing of the past for me, given how frequently I now rely on accessible digital alternatives like Google Pay and other unified payment interfaces. I truly appreciate your perspective. Thank you again for such a constructive dialogue. From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Renuka Gupta Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2026 12:53 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [AI] Feedback regarding the practical utility of the MANI app for visually impaired users Hi Mr. cane, I have read your email with great interest. First of all, I am glad that we have platforms like Access India where members of the visually impaired community can openly share their experiences and discuss challenges encountered in daily life. Regarding the MANI app, I completely agree with the concerns you have highlighted. I am a regular user of the app myself, and while I acknowledge that it has been helpful in certain situations, it also has several significant limitations that affect its usefulness in real-world environments. Some of these limitations have already been discussed, such as difficulties in noisy surroundings and the inability to reliably identify worn, crumpled, or soiled currency notes. I would like to add a few more observations based on my personal experience: • The app does not recognize coins, which means it provides only a partial solution for currency identification. • Even in a quiet environment, the app can sometimes take a considerable amount of time to identify a note. • There have been instances where the app has incorrectly identified a denomination, which can create confusion and potentially lead to financial loss. While it is difficult for a customer to use the app in a busy marketplace, I would like to highlight another important scenario: what about a shopkeeper who is visually impaired? A visually impaired shopkeeper may need to verify multiple notes received from customers throughout the day. Is it realistic to expect customers to wait while the shopkeeper opens the app and scans every note individually? What happens when the transaction involves a large amount of money and several notes of different denominations? In such situations, the practical limitations of the app become even more apparent. I would also like to draw attention to the design of coins in India. In many cases, even people without visual impairments find it difficult to distinguish between certain denominations, particularly when coins are worn through regular circulation. It is not uncommon to see sighted individuals having to look closely at a coin or spend extra time identifying its value. This highlights an important principle: accessibility benefits everyone, not just persons with disabilities. Better currency design would assist not only people who are blind or have low vision, but also elderly individuals, people with age-related or minor vision loss, and even fully sighted individuals who may be trying to identify currency in poor lighting conditions, bright sunlight, or other challenging environments. Accessibility should not be viewed as a special accommodation for a particular group, but as a fundamental aspect of good design that benefits society as a whole. For these reasons, I believe that technology-based solutions such as MANI should be viewed only as supplementary aids and not as substitutes for accessible currency design. The real solution lies in designing currency notes and coins that can be easily distinguished by touch. I am not specifically referring to Braille, since a large proportion of visually impaired individuals are not Braille readers. Instead, currency should incorporate clear and consistent tactile features and distinct sizes that allow denominations to be identified quickly and independently. Although Indian currency notes currently vary in size, denominations such as ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, and ₹100 have appeared in multiple designs and sizes over the years, which can create confusion. A more consistent approach, with a unique and standardized size and tactile pattern for each denomination, would significantly improve accessibility and independence for persons with visual impairments. Accessibility should not depend on a smartphone, a camera, adequate lighting, processing time, or ideal environmental conditions. A person should be able to identify currency instantly and confidently through touch alone. Until that becomes a reality, solutions like MANI can only serve as temporary workarounds rather than complete solutions. Thank you for initiating this important discussion. I hope that future currency design and accessibility initiatives will involve meaningful consultation with persons with visual impairments and focus on solutions that work effectively in real-life situations. Kind regards, Renuka Gupta Senior Accessibility Tester | CPACC -- Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> . 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