Clarity LLC, manufacturers of assistive technologies for the visually impaired is set to launch the Rio, the newest in its Next Generation product line. The latest in portable technology, the lightweight Rio magnifier offers incredible magnification for a multitude of functions. At only 1.5 pounds, the self contained Rio provides 7 inches of viewing space, and up to 5 hours of battery life.

Pioneering transplants to restore the sight of people affected by the leading cause of blindness in the Western world could start in three years, after successful human cell implants in pigs.

The animals look a little human, now that they have a lawn of human cells growing in an area about size of about half of a little fingernail at the back of their eyes, which are ideal for testing treatments before they are used on people.

A new electric brailler for visually impaired people will be available in the country in February, says the South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB).

It's a visual spectacular, but that did not stop 300 blind and partially-sighted children enjoying the delights of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. The Royal National Institute for the Blind brought the youngsters to a special performance of the CS Lewis classic being staged at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds. The children met and interacted with the characters from the magical world of Narnia, including the White Witch, Aslan the lion, Mr and Mrs Beaver and the four evacuated children – all of whom were in full costume. They then experienced the wonder of the production.

The Open Society Institute, The Sigrid Rausing Trust, the
United Kingdom Department for International Development, and an anonymous donor today announced a groundbreaking collaborative to support the human rights for people with disabilities.

COIMBATORE: A ‘talking book library’ will come to the help of visually impaired students here since learning through Braille system is “difficult for them.”

 
The library, which will be called ‘Bharathi-Rotary Talking Book Library’, will be set up by the Bharathiar University (BU) with the support of a Rotary Club. It will be opened in a month at a private college in the city.

Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, India’s one of the leading eye care provider, has successfully performed Intraocular lens (IOL) implant on Anandhi, who is just 4 years, using glued IOL technology. For the first time in the World, tissue glue has been used to fix an intraocular lens in an eye, where Intraocular lenses cannot be implanted. This new surgical procedure was invented & performed by Prof. Amar Agarwal, Joint Managing Director, Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, Chennai.

Applian Technologies' Replay AV was the only mainstream software nominated in the Best Software category in the Blind Bargains 2007 Access Awards last week. The other software nominated in the best software category was specifically designed for blind users. Although, Replay AV didn't win the award the program's inclusion in the top four Best Software category is a testament to the efforts Applian Technologies has put into making their products accessible to the blind.