Ketan is absolutely correct that there is no substitute for Braille in the present scenario.
Praful Vyas. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ketan Kothari" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 7:31 PM Subject: Re: [AI] your thoughts on braille > Let me be forthright is saying that there is no substitute for Braille in > the present sceneario. There are several reasons for my saying so: > > In the first place, even though the sighted use computer they read while the > blind listen. There cannot be any substitute for reading. It increases > imagination. > > In the second place, the knowledge of spellings, grammar and semantics can > only be increased by reading Braille. > > In the third place, in countries like ours where we have a multitude of > languages Braille can reach all but computers have a long way to go in this > regard. In fact, why has noone asked why we need to use Roman or any other > scripts? > > Admittedly, there are certain drawbacks with Braille such as space > consumption and time consumption, within the given circumstances Braille has > no replacement. > > Further, let it be remembered by one and all that even those who do not know > Braille have benefitted through its spread since it is through this script > that most of us got educated and became visible in society. > > As has been stated earlier by many others Braille can be utilized where no > technology can be used and even if there were to be small gadgets the costs > involved would be phenomenal. > > Frankly, those sighted people who claim to be working for our welfare have > created a situation where such questions are being raised. Braille is > presently necessary and must be promoted at all costs. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Subramani L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 12:32 PM > Subject: [AI] your thoughts on braille > > > > Folks: > > > > Appologies for the lengthy mail. > > > > A couple of weeks from now 'Sahana', a trust in Bangalore is holding its > > workshop to emphasise the importance of using Braille by the visually > > challenged, despite widespread availability of technology. I thought > > this could be a right occasion to write (in my newspaper) about how > > Braille teaching/learning and its wider use is fairing against the > > increasing number of accessible technology/devices. In this regard I > > would like you all to share your opinions or personal experience on > > Braille learning or use in your daily lives. Giving a few pointer below > > for you all to think. I request you to contribute to this topic with > > relevant and thought provoking messages, both for and against Braille. > > > > -The trustee Mr Varadarajan with whom I spoke, doesn't dismiss the > > prominent role technology is playing in making the VC employable and > > compete with others in the mainstream. But, he feels in the excitement > > created by computer/technology, promotion and retention of Braille as > > the primary medium of reading/writing for the VCs has been ignored or > > given second preference at best. Who is responsible for this? Do you > > think trainers neglect Braille or do you think the urgency they need to > > show in getting employment for the VCs justifies any neglect they may > > show towards Braille? > > > > -Though people like Mr Varadarajan have been stressing the importance of > > learning Braille, the wide ranging application of technology has > > virtually eliminated the need for the VCs to go through the pains of > > learning, or, writing in Braille. This, in many ways, is comparable to > > the so-called art of letter writing which is almost extinct thanks to > > PCs, laptops and mobilephones. So, do you think it is pratcial for the > > VCs to adopt to technology at the expense of Braille? > > -Of course, the fact remains that Braille is still relevant for 90 or > > more percent of VCs who have virtually no access to computer. But, given > > that NGOs and training institutes have started to address the access > > problem and, hopefully, in a few years time almost all VCs will have > > access, do you think Braille can be consigned safely to the museum? > > -There are also attempts to incorporate Braille in technologies with the > > advent of refreshable Braille systems, Braille keyboards and output > > devices. Given that this would still restrict communication only between > > the VCs and will not fully help interaction with others in the > > mainstream, can we still look Braille as the most relevant medium for > > us? (Please feel free to contribute your own views independent of these > > points) > > > > Regards, > > > > Subramani > > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > with the subject unsubscribe. > > > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > > please visit the list home page at > > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
