Can anybody please tell me about the special camera which visually impaired person can use to click photos. If this type of camera exists then it would add a new dimention to my avargi.
On 3/2/11, chetan kumar <[email protected]> wrote: > - 02-07-2011 11:26 AM > > New Delhi: Even as technology has made it possible for the blind to use the > internet, to click photos using special cameras and to undertake activities > that are effortless for the sighted, innovators are now seeking to aid them > further with new and cheaper gadgets. > > > Currently, the visually impaired are able to read and browse through various > web pages on the internet one line at a time. Paul D Souza, a > Karnataka-based engineer has created a multiline refreshable display that > gives a visually impaired person instant access to the computer revolution. > > > "My device is like a monitor for the blind where they can read by feeling > the Braille dots on its surface. The dots created by raising or lowering > small pins simulate the bumps of an embossed page and the text changes as > the online page refreshes itself," Souza told PTI. > > > He says such devices are currently being used in countries in the West but > at costs that are very prohibitive in India. "Technology has not changed for > the last 30 years. People continue to use the single-line display device > which costs as much as $3,000. I have tried to create a five line - 20 > characters per line - display at a cost of $500. It's also the first device > in 14 years to meet NLS Braille specifications," he says. > > > The engineer, who is a college dropout, aims to bring down the price further > to $200 which is much cheaper than the existing models. While over 15 > million people in India fall into the category of the visually impaired, > Souza says he wants to promote literacy among the blind. "While there are > many say that Braille is unnecessary when there are computers which can read > out text aloud, I think it will make these people illiterate." > > > Souza is a finalist shortlisted for the Third Social Innovation honours > given by the Nasscom Foundation. The honours are a bid to recognise > innovation in the use of information and communication technology for social > development. > > > Like Souza, two undergraduate students from Meerut have developed a "blind > helper" - a 7 key keyboard to help the visually challenged operate not only > a computer but also other electrical appliances in their house using > "smart-home extension cables". > > > "It is difficult for a blind person to operate a normal keyboard with 104 > keys. Blind-helper is a Braille free technology that operates with the help > of e-vision software using dot net technology," says Mohit Khanna, who has > teamed up with a fellow student at the Bharat Institute of Technology. > > > The device has 5 navigation keys and the remaining two keys are a substitute > for the escape and enter keys in a normal keyboard, he says. "As the system > does not require Braille, so even a Braille Illiterate blind person can also > use it. Also, the same system with some minor modifications can become > useful even for paralytic people, or those with Parkinson's and even > Alzheimer's diseases," says Khanna. > > > Another student team from the VES Institute of Technology in Mumbai has > designed the project "Explore", which aims to enable the differently abled > to educate themselves and discover the virtual world of the computer. > > > "Our solution helps visually impaired to educate themselves through talking > textbooks, connect to social networking sites like Facebook etc and thus > collaborate with the world. The software assimilates Braille keys on the > keyboard and output is provided through speech thereby reducing the need for > costly hardware," says Samiran Saha, who is leading the student team. > > > Saha says his team's innovation will be useful for government organisations > to demographically track the literacy level of the differently abled as well > as assist NGOs and child welfare organisations to suitably channelise their > activities and collaborate. > > > Khanna and Saha figure in the 21 finalists from across India who have been > shortlisted for the Genpact Nasscom Social innovation awards. Apart from > individuals, several organistions that have created solutions to aid the > visually impaired have also been shortlisted for the award which will be > announced on February 8. > > Just one smile can change > the world! spread more smile & see yourself the happiest person in the > world! god bless ( please don't forget to smile ) > > With best regard's > Chetan Kumar. > My Skype ID: > chetansagar7 > > 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 > > -- Naresh Kumar Assistant Professor Department of History Kamala Nehru College (University of Delhi) To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. 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