The main objective of Visually Impaired Children Kit for Inclusive Education (V.I.C.K.I.E.) project is to develop a technical solution for a better integration of the visually impaired pupils and students in the mainstream education.
The project enables visually impaired people to read books in digital format via a dedicated computer that translates book files into Braille or audio format.
Google research scientist T.V. Raman lost his sight due to glaucoma in childhood. But he never never let himself and other visually impaired people be sidelined on the Internet.
His latest effort is called ‘Accessible Search’, a new Google search engine that aims to deliver results both relevant and easy for visually impaired people to access.
Guangcheng lost his sight after a childhood illness and did not attend school until he was 18. When he did go to school, he encountered legal problems.
The Chinese government exempts blind citizens from taxes and fees. But Chen Guangcheng often did not receive such benefits. Determined to realise his legal rights, he studied law on his own, recruiting his four older brothers to read legal texts to him.
Thunder was launched by screenreader (U.K.). The company is run by blind couple Margaret and Roger Wilson-Hinds. "We see the talking computer as the modern Braille - providing a gateway to learning, work opportunities and a measure of financial freedom and independence," said the couple about their initiative.
Screenreader.net has developed the software in partnership with Manchester-based Sensory Software Limited.
Seven blind Iranian women are going to make documentaries on their lifestyle. The project was proposed by director Mohammad Shirvani at a screenwriting and directing workshop held last summer for blind people in White Cane Charity Foundation in Tehran.
The seven women will shoot their films through compact digital cameras. Sara Parto, Banafsheh Ahmadi, Narges Haqiqat, Shima Kaheh, Mahdis Elahi, Shokufeh Davarnejad, and Naghmeh Afiat aim to make short documentaries on their personal lives by the sound-based recording.
Playing video games with his brother Isaiah, in the cacophony of noise, 14 year old Ben Underwood can figure out everything that's happening just by listening.
"How can you even separate the sound? "Because they got different voices,” says Ben. Watching him in action, it seems clear that Ben really can do anything!
Nance Eldridge Coffaro focuses the camera on the wig, watches the monitor, and begins to work out the style. Once that's done, "I can do a lot of it by feel," she opined, "I'm amazed by how much I do by feel.”
Coffaro had been styling hair since she was a teenager. But was forced to give up salon work due to her blindness. She was diagnosed with a genetic disorder that causes the optic nerve to atrophy.
She is able to make out light and shadows within a few feet.
A new technology now allows visually impaired people to work shoulder to shoulder with non-visually impaired people in the B.P.O. (Business Process Outsourcing) industry.
The technology ‘Neil’ (Navigation and Expert Interaction Logic) offers a ‘talking companion’, according to Shyam Kedare, ‘Softnet Interactive Private Limited’ which conceptualised the new technique. The software is used to transform coded data into audio format through a landline telephone instrument. The caller first listens to the information and then makes a call to the customer.
This blind musical band has performed for the Governor, the Mayor and for Infosys Chief Mentor N.R. Narayana Murthy. But their happiest moment was when they performed for the Indian cricket team, recently in Bangalore. "It is a big opportunity and an occasion for us," said Murthy, flautist and the oldest member of the group. ‘Ability in Disability’ (I.D.L.) Blind Band’ is a full-fledged troupe that got together seven months ago to produce melody and to make the most of the talent of the members.
Ten years ago, David and Philips Raistrick developed cards with bar codes that coul
Nuance Talks is a software that enables the visually impaired people to use his or her G.S.M. mobile phone easily. Surprisingly, it has not found many takers in the State of Gujarat. Government figures suggest, there are only 20 users of the software across the whole State. ‘Nuance TALKS’ (U.S.A.), when used on a G.S.M. mobile phone, provides speech-enabled text messages, and makes files and other screen content accessible to a visually impaired user. According to the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Gandhinagar, people cannot afford to buy the software as it is very expensive.
If the results can be translated into a treatment for human eye disease, it could help millions of people suffering with conditions ranging from age-related macular degeneration to diabetes. In U.K., a team of scientists took cells from three to five-day old mice, a stage when the retina is about to be formed. The cells were then transplanted into animals, which had been genetically designed to have conditions, which meant they would gradually lose their sight - either mimicking the human disease retinitis pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration.
Tom Gryder (47) is legally blind. He finished a six-day hike through Glacier National Park's backcountry (U.S.), recently. “I really enjoyed the scenery in Glacier National Park. I also saw a plume of smoke from the fire (Red Eagle Fire) which was really interesting,” Gryder said about his escapade. Gryder hiked from Upper Two Medicine to the Walton Ranger Station, averaging seven miles a day. “It's one of the few things I can do. Even though I have to take my time and go slow,“ he said.
When he was appointed to the school, many students and guardians had made representations to education department authorities, saying they felt a blind man might not be able to do justice to the job.
Two years down the line, he has become the most popular teacher in the school. And, those who expressed apprehensions about his ability are now glad that they have been proved wrong.
Suresh Biswal, 37, who was born blind, teaches at the ‘Pranakrushna Upper Primary School’ in Gagoei village (Orissa).
In U.K., a visually impaired woman undertook an amazing challenge. Martine Brooks, 56, drove eight miles along the Great Barford bypass, in Bedfordshire, with the Mayor of Bedford, Frank Branston, in the back. Brooks’ friend and navigator Steve Clarke challenged her to do so. What next? Branston agreed to accompany her on the ride. What’s more, it was aimed to raise £5,000 (approximately Rupees 3,95,000) for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, U.K., on its 75th anniversary.
In August, Eyenews had reported that Google search engine aims to make web search more accessible to visually impaired people. A.O.L., Yahoo! and other search engines are now following the same suit.
A.O.L., a unit of Time Warner Incorporated, will soon update A.O.L. web mail to make it more screen-reader friendly. The revisions, which will be under way by the end of the year, will eliminate the need for users with screen readers, to switch to a separate text-only page.
High-tech signs on buses, traffic signals and landmarks will be installed throughou
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