Product and Technology

New system develops analytic thought in blind children

For the purpose of developing analytic thought and reducing mistaken alterations in data received by children with sight disabilities, a group of students in Mexico City designed a multi-sensory system that includes stories, jigsaw puzzles and stuffed toys.

“Mati Mati Makes Visible the Invisible”, is a system that reduces the difficulties of learning by developing analytic thought in blind children, said the creators, students at the Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM).

Our technologies to keep empowering India in 2018: Microsoft

NEW DELHI: Various technologies at Microsoft that began transforming the lives of individuals and communities in India last year will gain further momentum in 2018, the company's President Anant Maheshwari said on Tuesday.

In a mission statement, Maheshwari said he is proud to play a role in the transformation of India's core pillars of education, health care, agriculture and governance, among others.

Today, about 25 per cent students drop out from grade 10 to grade 11.

TRAI begins discussions on making ICT accessible for disabled

Telecom regulator TRAI began a dialogue on making ICT accessible for the disabled,
saying more policy interventions are needed in this area where benefits of technology have not been fully realised.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), releasing its latest consultation paper on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), has also sought industry views on whether handset makers should be mandated to manufacture at least one model for the disabled with assistant technology features such as hearing, visual aids and emergency buttons.

Facebook's new face recognition service uses AI to help blind users know who is in the photos in their feeds

When Matt King first got on Facebook eight years ago, the blind engineer had to weigh whether it was worth spending an entire Saturday morning checking whether a friend of his was actually in his friend list. Such were the tools at the time for the visually impaired — almost nonexistent.
Today, thanks to text-to-audio software, it just takes a few seconds for him to accomplish the same task. And because of a new face recognition service the social network is rolling out Tuesday, he can now learn which friends are in photos, even those who haven’t been tagged by another user.

Japan to donate Braille Printers for Blind Students

KATHMANU — Ambassador of Japan to Nepal Masashi Ogawa signed a grant contract to provide Braille printers and ancillary equipment to the Nepal Association for the Welfare of the Blind (NAWB) here today. The contract was signed between the Embassy of Japan and the Chairman of NAWB Kumar Thapa.

Pakistani student creates a device for the visually impaired

A Pakistani student from Peshawar has developed a device that helps people with visual impairment walk. The device, Sonic Eye, includes a white stick which has a navigation device attached along with a sensor that buzzes each time it detects an object in close proximity. The student behind the device, Hafsa Jamal, stated that she is also preparing a mobile app which would help the visually impaired navigate using their phone instead of a stick altogether.Late last year, students from Karachi University developed several applications for Android and websites.

Microsoft's Seeing AI app for the blind now reads handwriting

NEW DELHI: Apart from the Bing update and Cortanaenhancements, Microsoft also revamped is Seeing AI app for iOS. The company announced the changes at the ongoing Microsoft's AI Summit in San Francisco.

Innovations for inclusion

Inventors and creators seek to build a more inclusive world with hardware, software and services. The Hindu reports.

BrailleMe

100 visually impaired get white canes in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI: Some 100 visually impaired people were given white canes here on Sunday for making them safe and secured during their mobility, reports BSS.

Zila Parishad authorities provided the canes at a simple ceremony in the city.

Zila Parishad Chairman Muhammad Ali Sarker, Chief Executive Officer Dr Dewan Shahriar Firoj, Panel Chairman Naimul Huda and General Secretary of National Blind Welfare Association Habibur Rahman Khan joined the distribution ceremony.

PU installs scanners for visually impaired

Chandigarh, October 30

Punjab University (PU) today installed two scanners for visually impaired students of the varsity.

According to PU librarian Dr Raj Kumar, with the help of scanners, visually disabled students can scan books, notes, magazines and other study material. After scanning, it gets stored in their laptop or computer in the PDF format. Then the text could be converted into audio book. The total cost of the scanners with software is around Rs 1.3 lakh.