Accessibility

Start-ups coming up with new applications for the visually impaired

A host of applications that help the visually impaired navigate the world- both digital and real- is being developed by about half a dozen startups that are also gaining investor attention.

These ventures which are building mobile applications, braille enabled printers and personal devices are enthused by policy support in this year's union budget to increase production of braille textbooks and currency notes with braille markings.

Hyderabad firm develops 'smart shoes' for visually impaired and athletes

Secunderabad (Andhra Pradesh) based Ducere Technologies has launched the haptic footwear under their wearable technology brand Lechal (meaning "take me there" in Hindi) that helps the visually impaired navigate from one place to another.

A journalism course for the visually-impaired students

The Times Foundation, in collaboration with JSS Mahavidyapeetha, has introduced a mass communication and journalism course for visually-impaired students at JSS Polytechnic For The Differently Abled.

The course, perhaps the first of its kind in India, aims at moulding students into radio/video jockeys (RJs/VJs), anchors, technical writers and digital journalists. The focus is on voice-based journalism as the course is exclusively for visually challenged students.

Visually-impaired woman publishes Braille version of Quran

A visually-impaired woman here has published the Quran in Arabic Braille.

"Our institute's 23-year-old secretary, Rabia Khan, who is herself blind since birth has prepared the Arabic Braille Quran," Chairman of the Madrasa Noor Research Institute for the Blind Haleem Khan told reporters.

Calgary Transit looking to provide ‘tactile maps’ for riders with vision loss

Calgary is seeking a “design and prototype” of tactile-map technology to help people with visual impairments navigate the city’s transit system.
“We’re looking for something that can be handheld, easily distributed through our customer-service centre, and potentially through the CNIB,” said Chris Jordan, manager of strategic planning with Calgary Transit.
The idea came from citizen feedback during the city’s RouteAhead transit planning process.

Microsoft’s smart ‘Alice band’ could help visually impaired navigate outside

Microsoft is working with charity Guide Dogs for the Blind, to develop a Google Glass-like wearable that will help the visually impaired get around in crowded places including the public transport.
As reported by The Daily Mail, the device resembles the Alice Band and uses an earpiece for navigation instructions. It works by bouncing information from sensors mounted on any item such as buildings or train carriages to a receiver in the wearer’s headband. The user is able to receive personalised instructions, such as how to get to the airport on time if a train is delayed.

3-D Printing Enables Visually Impaired Children to Experience the World of Literary Classics

In the past year, 3-D printing has been experiencing major breakthroughs, and it promises even greater strides in the fields of sustainability, technology and medical research. Yet the technology is currently being pioneered for another purpose: to help visually impaired children understand the fantastical worlds depicted in classic literary works such as Goodnight Moon and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?

Make 'Talking Books' Available for Sightless

India has become the first country to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for the visually impaired. The treaty requires signatories to adopt national law provisions that facilitate the availability of published works in formats like Braille that are accessible to the blind and allow their exchange across borders by organisations working for the visually impaired. The Indian Copyright Act, 1957, did not have any provision for the conversion and distribution of books in accessible formats for such persons.

Demystifying talking ATMs

In a move to reach out to a wider audience, RBI recently passed a directive asking banks to convert all new deployments into Talking ATMs and set up a road map for converting existing ATMs into ones that "talk". Navroze Dastur, managing director,financials, NCR India, outlines what these machines can do
Imagine living in a world where each daily chore requires special efforts – like walking on the street, commuting by public transport, visiting a mall or a bank. Each step, each movement, each action has to be thought through carefully.

Ind takes global lead to empower blind to read

India has become the first country to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually-impaired or print disabled.

The treaty would also go a long way towards establishing equal rights and opportunities for education and employment for them, the HRD Ministry said in a statement here.