The RNIB NI Technology Fair will open its doors for the third year on Wednesday 11 February 2026.
For one day only, this completely free event is the biggest showcase of assistive technology products for blind and partially sighted people in the island of Ireland and a great opportunity to explore the range of products available and learn all about RNIB’s Digital Skills support and the wide range of practical and emotional support RNIB can provide.
In addition to the RNIB stands, the event will welcome Vision Aid, Sight and Sound Technology, NaviLens, Ambutech, and Pakflatt, and also host a fascinating programme of tech talks delivered by technology experts from around the world.
The exhibition will also welcome a host of local charities that offer essential support within the sight loss community such as Guide Dogs NI, Angel Eyes NI, Blind Veterans, and Deafblind NI, and provide the perfect opportunity to ask any technical questions at the volunteer-led 'Tech Surgery'.
Derry/Londonderry-based CEO of the charity Children in Crossfire, Richard Moore, 64, who was registered blind as a child, is looking forward to officially opening the event alongside Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Councillor Ruairí McHugh.
Richard said: "For me, modern technology unlocks the world around me and provides a massive level of independence. I feel that as a blind person, I’m now on a level with my sighted colleagues in terms of how I access information and how I interact with the working world.
"I use a whole host of technology each and every day. In work, I’m constantly on my laptop that has screen reading software installed on it that reads out the text displayed on the screen. This allows me to get on with sending and receiving emails, writing documents and attending online meetings. I also use a refreshable braille display, so I can still read by touch if I need to. This can be handy for times when speech software won’t do, like in a meeting or if I have to speak at an event and need to refer to notes.
"Outside work, I’d be lost without my smart speaker or my Apple iPhone that has a screen reader on it too. I use it for everything from getting news, staying in touch with friends and family and all sorts of other tasks that make me feel independent. Then of course we have the meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses and other AI solutions that are really becoming useful now.
"Technology reduces the sense of isolation that a blind person can feel and opens up the world in a completely different way. It’s removed a lot of barriers already, and there’s still so much in development.
"From tech that can describe the room around you, to tech that can read you a page of text, to tech that just identifies a tin of beans in your kitchen cupboard – the challenges around sight loss are being reduced all the time by way of technology.
"I just love finding out about new tech and to be in the same room as some of the world leaders and suppliers of the tech that helps me each and every day on 11 February will be fantastic. An event like this is such a great opportunity to meet up again and share our passion for and knowledge of assistive technology."
The RNIB NI Technology Fair will take place at the Foyle Arena, Limavady Road, Derry/Londonderry, BT47 6JY, on Wednesday 11 February, from 10am to 4pm. To speed your entry on the day, reserve a free ticket at Eventbrite.
