WATCH: "On a level with my sighted colleagues": Richard Moore on the tech powering his role as CEO

Local campaigner and charity CEO Richard Moore is delighted to be officially opening the annual RNIB NI Technology Fair in Derry on Wednesday, February 11 and said: “Not to be flippant about sight loss but in my opinion, there’s never been a better time to be blind.”

Richard is, of course, talking about how technology is transforming the lives of blind and partially sighted people and has praised the sight loss charity for bringing its exhibition to his native city.

According to research, people with sight loss are twice as likely to be digitally excluded than the general population but ask a blind or partially sighted person what they consider to be the key to independence and chances are you will hear the word ‘technology’.

Now in its third year, the RNIB NI Technology Fair will take place at the Foyle Arena in Derry/Londonderry on Wednesday, February 11, from 10.00am to 4.00pm.

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 has become the sight loss charity’s flagship event.

Richard Moore alongside Joe Kenny from RNIB.

The event will welcome industry leading names including Vision Aid, Sight and Sound Technology, NaviLens, and Pakflatt, and host a fascinating programme of Tech Talks delivered by technology experts from around the world.

Visitors are invited to explore the range of products available, including those from the RNIB Products and Advice Centre and learn all about RNIB’s Digital Skills support and the wide range of practical and emotional support RNIB can provide.

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 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.”

To support visitors to the RNIB NI Tech Fair, there will be a regular shuttle bus running between Derry bus and train station and the Foyle Arena venue.

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RNIB Country Director in Northern Ireland, Robert Shilliday, said: “I’m so delighted that the RNIB NI Technology Fair is heading to Derry this year following two amazing events in Belfast and Lisburn.

“For me, these events are a genuine pleasure to attend. For people living with sight loss, technology is not just a convenience, it’s a means of empowerment and independence. When a person loses sight and then faces barriers in doing the things they did before, quite often it’s technology that can provide the means to regain that independence and confidence again.

“As well as creating an opportunity to learn more about assistive technology, the ‘Tech Fair’ is becoming a great occasion to meet up with friends again and spend some time together.

“I want to thank the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Councillor Ruairí McHugh and our friend Richard Moore for joining us to formally open the event and support us in our plans to make Derry a great place to live, work and visit if you’re blind or partially sighted.”

To find out more, search ‘RNIB Tech fair 2026’, email rnibni@rnib.org.uk, or call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999