AGRA CONVENTION 2014
Blind Stars Beyond Facebook Bridging The Gap
7th to 9th November, 2014
Session 9
Assistive Technology and Education:
Accessibility of Reading Materials in Multiple Indian Languages & Technology and Employment :
Harnessing Technology in the Workplace
The Speaker of the session, Mr. Prashant Verma spoke about the importance of technology in our lives. It is an integral part of every person’s life, whether disabled or able-bodied. Assistive technology is any type of technology either developed for people with disability or adapted to cater to their needs.
- Screen reading software has been a revolutionary innovation that has been nothing short of a boon for people with visual impairment. It makes it possible for a device like computer, mobile phone or a tablet to turn text into speech.
- But the challenge is that it is not available in most of the regional languages. Though, work is in progress in this dimension. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) with Hindi language scanning facility has now been developed.
- OCR technology, which reads text from a picture of printed material, has now been improvised to be used in stand-alone reading devices like the MBlaze reading machine and the KNFB reader for iPhone users.
- This technology has made a lot of routine tasks very easy for the visually challenged. Paying bills, online shopping etc. could be done easily.
- Identifying their own home by the blind when travelling alone has been made possible by the use of a technology ‘remote call bell’.
- A currency identifier called ‘Rupee Checker wallet’ has been developed by Mr. Prashant himself which is quite affordable.
- Talking microwave machine is now being manufactured in India itself which makes cooking possible for the visually impaired.
- The use of ‘sticking stones’ for operating equipments like washing machines, treadmills and even for identifying containers in the kitchen has made the visually impaired quite independent of help.
- ‘Audio labelers’ could be used to identify files, clothes and various other things.
- A system has been developed by IIT Delhi which could be used to board buses by the visually impaired very easily with the help of a remote control.
- National Federation of the Blind, U.S.A has started a program in Baltimore called ‘Blind Driver Challenge’ which is still in the process of research. This has given hope to the blind community that one day they could learn to use of automobiles too.
Mrs. Veena Verma, an MBA and an accomplished professional shared her experience of successfully completing a demanding course like MBA with the help of assistive technology. She would read her books with the help of scanner and screen reader and also complete her assignments and presentations with the aid of assistive technology.
The main challenge that has emerged is the continual upgradation of technology used in organizations. Constant innovation is required in the field of assistive technologies to keep up with them.
The use of assistive technology had made life much easier for the visually challenged and has given them the confidence that they too can perform tasks that seemed impossible to them just a few years back.
Read the full report – Agra Convention 2014 – Report – HTML with Audio/Video
