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Better education for the visually impaired

With millions of visually impaired people in the country, software and hardware tools can help them realize their dreams through access to the same study material and communication mediums used by the rest of us. By Varun Aggarwal

There are approximately 10 million people with visual impairments in India. There has been a dearth of books in Braille in vernacular languages, as the manual transcription process is a tedious one. Imported systems permit the automatic transcription of English works only, and are expensive to boot.

People with visual impairment use Braille as an alternative to written script. The Braille system uses six dots arranged on a grid to form a maximum of 63 characters, which represent the various letters, punctuation marks and special markers of any language.

Webel Mediatronics Limited, a West Bengal Govt Company has a Research and Development Unit, which is recognized by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSSR), Govt of India. This unit has developed a complete portfolio of tools to help people with visual impairment get access to better educational facilities.

How it began

“The Webel Mediatronics team took up an integrated approach to develop a number of assistive devices and Indian language software for Braille education in the country under the Jaivigyan Project in 2000, sponsored by Department of Information Technology under the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Government of India,” said Debanjan Datta, Managing Director, WBEIDC Limited.

The comprehensive effort of Webel Mediatronics Limited tried to address many of the activities of an educational environment for the visually impaired, namely reading, writing, teaching, learning, printing, etc.

Under the Project Webel Mediatronics Limited developed tools like TextBraille – Text to Braille Transcription Software in Indian Languages; DirectBraille – Braille To Text Software for the visually impaired; EasyBraille, Automatic Braille Embosser, Braille Keyboard and E -classroom System and Electronic Tactile Device and E Reading System.

• TextBraille, the Text to Braille Transcription Software in Indian Languages is menu driven and user friendly. It can be operated by any computer user with a minimal knowledge of Braille. The software converts Indian Language text files into the corresponding Braille text instantly. The converted Braille file can be previewed on the screen along with the original file maintaining a correlation between the two, which makes the system more userfriendly.

The printing format i.e. the number of lines per page and number of characters per line, can be programmed by the user before transcription. The software supports 12 major Indian languages and English. The Bharati Braille Standard, which is the official Braille standard in the country, has been followed for transcription.

• DirectBraille, the Braille To Text Software for the visually impaired, assists visually impaired people to write in Braille with audio support. A regular QWERTY keyboard is used for data entry. SDF-JKL keys are used for six dots of Braille. The typed Braille is converted to text, which can be viewed and printed. A visually impaired person can take Braille print and ink print independently. This is a writing tool that facilitates blind to sighted written communication.
• EasyBraille is an interactive multimedia-based CD-ROM for learning Braille in Indian languages for sighted people. It covers the topic starting from simple alphabets to complex contraction rules in lucid language enhanced by audio. It provides a self-test facility at various stages. It is based on standard rulebooks followed in our country. This is useful in teachers / transcribers ‘training program.
• Automatic Braille Embosser: This is a PC driven Automatic Braille Embosser with a print speed of eight characters per second. It prints 30 lines/page and 36 Character per line, which are further programmable.
• Braille Keyboard & E -classroom System helps in the creation of an interactive classroom. Each student can be given a Braille keyboard (eight Braille Keyboards can be connected to a single workstation). As students use the Braille keyboard, the teacher can monitor the Braille file (as well as the converted text) of each student at a glance on a single monitor. Monitoring test performance has been simplified using an E-Classroom environment.

BrailleWriter application software along with a dedicated Braille keyboard (BKB-10) provides a friendly computerized environment for Braille file handling, Braille to Text conversion, Braille embossing as well as ink printing option by a visually challenged person. Audio feedback enables an visually impaired user to run the software independently. Braille to Text conversion is supported in 12 Indian Languages namely, Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Oriya, Assamese and English.

The Keyboard can be connected to a RS232 Serial Port and it allows direct entry of Braille codes. Eight dedicated Braille keyboards can be connected to one PC and operated simultaneously. Eighteen keys, which are ergonomically arranged, are most convenient for visually handicapped users. There is user-friendly audio support for every key pressed. Audio Recording and subsequent playback in the users’ own voice exists as an optional feature. The device is lightweight: 1 kg (approx). This microcontroller-based designed device has a built in serial RS 232 interface to computer and speaker with provision for a headphone.

• Electronic Tactile Device & E Reading System: Braille paper is costly and the lifespan of Braille books limited. Moreover, Braille books are bulky. To overcome these difficulties, Webel Mediatronics Limited has developed a paperless reading system consisting electronic tactile reader and Read-Braille Software.

The device has a refreshable Braille display of 20 characters in one line and a few control keys. A visually impaired persons can read a Braille file / book / document from a PC at his own speed. The control keys allow him to go to Next Line / Previous Line, Next Block / Previous Block, Start / End of Book etc.

Four Tactile Readers are being offered which can be connected to one Workstation. The Read-Braille Software allows the librarian to associate a Braille or Text file to a particular Reader. The administrator can monitor the status of each Reader.

Files downloaded from the Internet also can be read by visually impaired persons using the system. Braille ready books in major Indian Languages are available in www.braille-aids.in (hosted & maintained by Webel Mediatronics Limited) in an electronic format. This electronic Braille repository can be accessed through the Internet from anywhere for the benefit of the visually impaired.

Benefits achieved

The transcription system installed at the blind schools are being used for the first time for printing text books, question papers, class notes, etc. facilitating a qualitative change in Braille education. Currently the system covers transcription in 12 Indian languages such as Bangla, Hindi, Assamese, Oriya, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Nepali and English.

Knowledge of Braille makes a blind person literate. He can independently read, write and participate in written communication. Educational Technologies developed by Webel Mediatronics Limited are to strengthen Braille. Tools have been developed to write Braille, read Braille, Print Braille, learn Braille, teach Braille etc.

Datta, said, “Students are taking greater interest in learning Braille as they are able to use computers with audio support to write Braille. Students are getting facility to read unlimited reading material electronically (without taking Braille prints). Now schools can become self sufficient to meet requirement of Braille.

Further Improvement / Replication

The above systems in different configurations have been installed at five Resource Centers and 25 training centers throughout India under the Jaivigyan Project. Through another project sponsored by the Government of West Bengal and DIT, MCIT, Govt of India, Basic System has been installed at 27 Blind Schools and two government libraries in the State of West Bengal.

Since the system supports 12 major Indian languages, the same can be installed throughout the country in all Blind Schools. This will also help in the standardization of Braille education in the country.

After the success of the above project Webel Mediatronics Limited is now working on the next level of Technology development for the visually impaired. “The present research is in the areas of development of Text to Speech in Indian Languages; development of Screen Reader application, which will allow a visually impaired person to work with Windows; development of Optical Character Recognition, etc,” said Datta.

varun.aggarwal@expressindia.com