This is really a nice article. It would be really cool, if we have a talking sonar device that can inform us about the depth of a given pool. These kind of devices will be more helpful to visually impaired and other divers as well. A close friend of mine ended up in facing spinal-cord injury for diving in to a shallow pool. Unfortunately, my friend is not a person with visual impairment. Thank You.
Your's Sathiyaprakash. On 4/10/11, prateek aggarwal <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi people, > The following article might be of interest to some of you: > ---- > Swimming Aids for the Legally Blind > > Overview > > Visually impaired individuals use all their senses to do things that > people with vision take for granted. For example, a visually impaired > swimmer can use > ear pressure to determine the depth of the water. While learning to > swim, he may use some of the same tools as a sighted swimmer and > > > a few additional items > to learn how to maneuver in the water. This way, he can take advantage > of the pool just like anyone else. > > Flotation Device > > Many people use flotation devices, such as inflatable donuts or arm > bands, when first learning to swim whether sighted or not. For a > visually impaired swimmer, > a flotation device can give her courage to enter the water and get > used to the feel. When you can't see, the extra buoyancy gives you > time to become oriented > with the space. Because a visually impaired person can not see the > deep end of the pool, a flotation device helps her learn where the > deep section begins. > When her feet leave the pool floor as the water is becoming deeper, > the flotation device keeps her afloat. > > Poles > > Vision Australia suggests that a pole is a useful tool for a visually > impaired swimmer. A pole allows him to acclimate to the vertical and > horizontal planes. > If you can't see, you do not know a wall is directly ahead. A pole > held at a certain distance from the wall alerts the swimmer to the > presence of the wall. > Poles also help when a swimmer wants to jump into the pool. When you > have your sight, you know where the bottom of the pool is and can > prepare. A pole > gives a visually impaired person a cue as to where the bottom of the pool > lies. > > Flippers > > A visually impaired swimmer has no clear idea of what the pool looks > like or what may be nearby. Flippers help in several. They provide > feedback when the > swimmer clears a wall. They also free up hands to an extent, allowing > the swimmer to manage the space in front or him. Flippers also serve a > visually impaired > swimmer in some the same ways they do anyone: they help ease movement > through the water and increase speed. > > Face Mask > > Many individuals who are legally blind still have some sight. It is > vital that a swimmer take advantage of what sight they do have when > moving through the > water. By using goggles, a swimmer can use shadows and light to help > her navigate and avoid obstacles. For a visually impaired individual, > goggles improve > safety and orientation while in the pool. > > Regards, > Prateek agarwal. > Director, > Daedal technovations pvt. Ltd. > www.daedaltechnovations.com > we bring the change we wish to see! > > Website: > www.prateekagarwal.tk > | > www.prateekagarwal.webs.com > > 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
