---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: James Mathew <[email protected]> Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2011 10:13:27 +0530 Subject: News on INSIGHT's sensor gadget To: insight_friends <[email protected]>
New heights with a white cane Tomy Joseph seems to have come a long way since that fateful Christmas night when, at the age of 16, he completely lost his eyesight following an accident while playing with crackers. Unlike the earlier days when he had found it difficult to move from one room to the other, Mr. Joseph now travels to Delhi all by himself, communicates effectively, and is competent in using a computer. White Cane Safety Day, observed every year on October 15, celebrates such achievements of the visually challenged and highlights the importance of the white cane used as a mobility tool for the visually challenged. White canes have helped many like Mr. Joseph to live life with greater independence. A sensor unit that provides greater mobility to the white cane user has been developed by ‘Insight,' a joint initiative of the Kerala State IT Mission and the Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing and Employment (SPACE). The unit, the size of a pen-box, can be attached to the white cane or can be carried in the pocket. The ultra-sonic sensors attached to the unit act as a detection aid which can sense obstacles within a distance of 4 m. An audio signal is received through the speakers attached to the unit which raises an alarm when needed. “The controlling knob can be used to adjust the distance for detection based on the user's need. The alarm sound also varies depending on the distance of the obstacle,” said Muhammad Shameer, who has worked behind this project. As Mr. Shameer explains how it works, Mr. Joseph picks up the sensor unit, places it in his pocket, and moves towards the door. As soon as he comes close to the door, a beep sound is heard from the unit and he quickly moves to the side. “We have been greatly benefited by the various software tools developed at Insight and the staff members help us immensely to learn using them,” added Mr. Joseph. A number of visually challenged people across the State have been using important software applications such as Swaram, pyScan App, and Inkpot developed at Insight. According to James Mathew, coordinator of Insight, even while there were a number of products developed in the market for the visually challenged, they remained as prototypes without reaching the needy or they did not satisfy the basic needs of the user. In connection with the White Cane Safety Day, a programme to teach Malyalam computing to the visually challenged would be launched soon, said C. Sajeevan, secretary, Kerala Federation of the Blind. Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2539513.ece -- HASTA LA VICTORIA SIEMPRE! -- Thanks®ards Vinod B. mobile 09809664484 Register for AccessIndia convention 2011(November 12-13) at: http://www.accessindia.org.in/harish/convention.htm Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ 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
