The Hindi speaking Blind ofIndia have now got reason to rejoice as they too will be able to operatecomputers independently and that too in Hindi. The JAWS Talking Software fromFreedom Scientific Inc., USA,which converts a PC into a talking computer enabling the visually impaired tolearn and operate computers independently is now being released in Hindilanguage also along with English.

Since the blind cannot seethe monitor screen nor can they use the mouse, they need to use the keyboardfor all functions with the help of the JAWS Talking Software.

This is a majorbreakthrough which will provide a far reaching advantage in teaching the blindchildren computers especially in the Hindi speaking States and embrace a largesection of them learning in blind schools in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, UttarPradesh, New Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand,Gujarat, and also Maharashtra.

Besides, this will help theblind employees, especially those working as Hindi stenographers, LDC, UDCpositions in various Ministries and Government Departments, Public Sector Unitsand Banks. Many of them, though employed, are not given the support of assistivetechnology and as a result they are unable to perform their daily tasks efficiently. But now with JAWS Talking Software available in Hindi, they too can contributeand perform effectively in their job profiles.

Computer literacy is givingthe blind and low vision persons new professional opportunities, enhancingtheir status at their present jobs, and also giving them additional proficiencyand confidence at work.

Till today the visuallyimpaired have been facing several challenges such as:

• Though beingemployed with Government Departments, they are not provided with JAWS Talking Softwareand are therefore restricted in performing their duties.
• They have studied in Hindi and therefore could not use the computer since JAWS was till now only in English.
• The blind students could not pursue higher education in colleges, where they are required to study voluminous curriculum and without the knowledge of computers are at a disadvantage.
• The blind in rural areas have been deprived of computer literacy since they are primarily Hindi speaking and did not have access to computers.

Allthis will now change since the introduction of JAWS Talking Software being madeavailable in a Bilingual Edition i.e. English and Hindi languages which willempower the blind to read and write, operate computers, surf the internet,prepare reports, analyze projects, edit or prepare documents, etc. The onlydifference between "any other employee" and a blind person is thatthe blind person may need special tools to perform the task, tools thateliminate or lessen the need for eyesight. Fortunately, thanks to thedevelopment of Assistive Technologies - like JAWS Talking Software, the livesof the visually impaired in Indiahave changed for the better enabling them to independently operate computers.