Geetha Shammanna, a professional translator in German who has been working in this field for three years in Bangalore, gives some useful tips for those aspiring to a career as a translator

Innovations such as screen readers as well as the increased popularity of the Internet have opened crucial windows of opportunity for the blind. One of the career options that has become a reality in the wake of this technological revolution is translation.

Rose Yasmin Karim

Pertis, the Islamic Association of the Visually Impaired, is a non-profit organisation run by the visually impaired in Malaysia. It is the sole publisher of the Braille Quran and the space where the printing is performed is no bigger than an office pantry.

Says Zakaria Yahya, Chairman of the publishing bureau, "There is actually a big demand, but we are unable to meet the orders fast enough due to staff shortage and a lack of capital to purchase additional printers."

Mayura Janwalkar, February 15, 2007

'Beyond Sight', a unique exhibition of photographs taken by the visually impaired, was held recently at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai. It was a first-of-its-kind programme, where nine visually challenged persons learnt the art of photography, sharpened their skills for a year and captured sounds, voices, smells and touches through the camera. Partho Bhowmick, the man behind the show, is an IT professional and a skilled photographer who moved from Kolkata to Mumbai in 1999.

February 17, 2007

When openers from the National Association for the Blind (NAB) team from Silvassa stepped on the field in the finals no one knew it was a brand new champion in the making. The Silvassa team, chasing the 101-run target put up by NAB Idar, won the title with eight wickets in hand, winding up the game in just 10 overs. Silvassa opener Ganesh Bhusara made a sparkling 47 off 33 with six boundaries; Ramesh Jamadar contributed 27 with four fours, which helped them clinch the title.

February 16, 2007

Aimed at identifying and solving the basic issues being faced by visually challenged people while using computers, a model Information Communication Technology centre for the visually challenged is being set up in Thiruvanthapuram.

As part of this venture, the Kerala State IT Mission recently organised a national workshop in association with the Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing and Employment.

February 17, 2007

The Bharatiya Welfare Association for the Blind opened its karate training facility for visually impaired boys in Gulbarga recently. Amrita Somnath, national referee for karate and an international karate player from Kerala, inaugurated it. Association President Dattu Agarwal said it was the first time that a unique programme for training the visually impaired in karate had been taken up in North Karnataka

She has clearly defined her path. Be it developing a script in Braille, writing books, setting up international centres or horse riding, Sabriye Tenberken leads the way.

Scribes, computers or oral examinations? This question is perplexing visually challenged students all over India as they prepare for their upcoming college exams. Vaijayanti Savant Tonpe seeks the right answers

Cyrus Farivar

Japanese inventor, Yazaki Eletronics, has just built a one-pound keyboard with six keys that lets blind people take notes. It stores the data on what is presumed to be a flash drive. When you type, the keyboard speaks each letter as a tone and can be configured to type in Japanese, Chinese or Roman script. The keyboard can then be hooked up to a computer so that you can download your transcripts. Of course, all those features don't come cheap-it is priced at $1,750.