Hello Viraj, Thank you for sharing such interesting and knowledgeable article. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Viraj" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in> Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2008 11:12 PM Subject: [AI] Assistive technology for the disabled
> Although we may be aware of many of the assistive technologies theorised > in the article below, the way in which the author has theorised them with > regards to various disability requirements appears quite interesting. One > also gets a glimpse of the development towards such technologies in other > third-world countries. Somehow I couldnt access the URL . > > :The Daily Star: Internet Edition > > Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW > > Saturday, January 26, 2008 11:25 PM GMT+06:00 > > Assistive technology for the disabled > Farooque Hossain Kamrul > Disablement, needless to say, significantly reduces the life quality of a > person as it substantially diminishes their work ability. Assistive or > adaptive > technology, however, can bring back the individual's employability at an > acceptable level. > > Unfortunately, most people, even the disabled themselves, in the third > world countries are not aware that assistive technology may become their > real friend > in assisting them in everyday life. I would like to highlight in this > article some assistive technologies for different types of disabilities; > before that > it is worth mentioning what an assistive technology means. > > There is no specific definition of Assistive Technology (AT). It simply > denotes any item, piece of equipment, or system that is used to increase, > maintain > or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. > > The definition does not necessarily imply that AT must include computers, > or that it must be expensive, or that certain medical professionals can > only > prescribe it. This definition permits AT to be restricted by your own > creativity and imagination. > > The followings represent samples of the many types of AT, grouped by the > nature of a user's disability, that are available. > > AT for visual impairments > Visually impaired users face a great challenge when interacting with > graphical user interfaces. Typically, they use software applications known > as screen > readers that turn the texts, events, and elements in applications and > websites into synthesised speech. For example, when a user opens a new > window in > Microsoft Internet Explorer, a screen reader such as JAWS (Job Access with > Speech) or Home Page Reader might say "new browser window". > > A physically challenged person, I took part in a specialised training > program last year, where 19 other physically challenged people also > participated. > Of them, 12 were visually challenged. I observed with sheer astonishment > how my visually impaired friends worked smoothly on computer using screen > reader > software like JAWS or FSB reader. They used special key combinations to > move around screen in order to direct the screen what to read. By > listening to > this speech, they were able to understand a screen's content. > > Another AT for the visually challenged is refreshable Braille display, > which may be used as an alternative to screen reader. These devices > convert screen > text into Braille and display the Braille on a number of cells comprised > of independently controlled pins. When editing and reviewing text, > refreshable > Braille displays can be much better to work with because a vision-impaired > user can easily reread characters on the same line and check spelling. > Screen > readers are capable of reading words character by character, but the > process of moving backwards in text to review and then moving forwards can > be cumbersome. > Despite their potential advantage, refreshable Braille displays are less > common due to their higher cost. > > In addition, a Braille embosser converts computer-generated text into > embossed Braille output. Braille translation programs convert text scanned > in or > generated via standard word processing programs into Braille, which can be > printed on the embosser. The results on thick paper are the individual > dots > that constitute Braille characters. > > However, choice of appropriate hardware and software will depend on the > user's level of functional vision. Put another way, it relies on the > intensity > of impairment. For example, low-vision users can use hardware such as > large monitors, adjustable task lamp, Copyholder, closed circuit > television, modified > cassette recorder, and scanner to improve visibility. Moreover, this can > be helpful to people who have difficulty reading or seeing self-voicing > applications > such as talking web browsers. > > AT for the hearing challenged > Although hearing impaired individuals encounter less accessibility than > the visually challenged do, they face tremendous difficulty in terms of > learning, > job access and social inclusion. These are due to the traditional way of > learning. > > However, computer technology has emerged as blessing to the hearing > impaired. As computer prompts such as spoken messages and beeps can be > misunderstood > or go unnoticed by hearing impaired individuals, this problem is solved > through the use of tools that produce visual warning when the system plays > a sound > and/or display captions in place of a spoken message. Light signaller > alerts the computer with light signals. This is useful when a computer > user cannot > hear computer sounds. As an example, a light can flash alerting the user > when a new e-mail message has arrived or a computer command has completed. > > In addition, hearing impaired person can use TTY/TDD (Telecommunication > Device for the Deaf), which is an electronic device for text communication > via > a telephone line, telecare, closed captioning, teletext and multimedia > projector to address accessibility problem. Moreover, newer text-based > communication > methods such as short message service (SMS), internet relay chat (IRC) and > instant messaging have also been accepted by the deaf as an alternative or > adjunct > to TDD. > > AT for mobility impairments > Mobility impairment refers to any condition that limits an individual's > ability to navigate through their environment. Mobility assistive > technology products > and services for the physically challenged are used to ensure freedom of > movement around the home or office. For example, persons with mobility > impairment > can use wheelchair or electric wheelchair to overcome challenges to daily > activities. A permanent or portable ramp can also help in this regard. > > In addition, alternative pointing devices allow mobility-impaired > individuals to control the mouse pointer via a mechanism other than the > mouse. These > are typically used when someone lacks dexterity to manipulate a standard > mouse. Again, some software exists that converts the keyboard arrow keys > into > directional movements for the pointer. Other keys are used to signal a > left and right mouse click. Besides, for individuals with severe > impairments who > are entirely unable to manipulate the mouse and/or use a standard keyboard > can use HeadMouse wireless pointing device that converts the movements of > a > user's head into corresponding movements of the mouse pointer by tracking > the motion of a single point on the user's head. A standard keyboard may > be completely > replaced by using this system in conjunction with software that produces > an on-screen keyboard. > > Mobility-impaired individuals may utilise speech recognition applications. > This software can be used to both control applications via speech commands > and > as a means to dedicate text, with speech converted into text in real time. > > Disability is not inability; rather, it is a blessing in disguise. If the > disabled get some opportunity, they can also prove their potential in the > real > field. As evidenced by the above descriptions, assistive technology > services address a variety of disabilities in numerous ways. Regretfully, > technology, > created without regard to people with disabilities, often creates > undesired hindrances to hundreds of millions of people. We should know > that assistive > technology, or more specifically universally acceptable technology, > equally yields great rewards for the typical users. One example is the > kerb cuts in > the sidewalk at street crossing. While these kerb cuts enable pedestrians > with mobility impairments to cross the street, these also aid parents with > carriages > and strollers, shoppers with carts, and travellers and workers with > pull-type bags. > > And here in Bangladesh, though the availability of disabled friendly or > assistive technology is alarmingly low, YPSA -- a specialised non-profit > social > development organisation -- is doing some exciting work in this respect. > As a result, the organisation has been selected by DAISY (Digital > Accessible Information > System) Consortium, to ensure information in accessible format for people > with disabilities (PWDs), especially for the print disabled. We sincerely > hope > that other organisations would follow YPSA's effort in this regard to make > the PWDs lives somewhat easy and enjoyable. > > The author, a physically challenged person, is a trainee at Thakral > Information Systems Pvt Ltd, Dhaka. > > > 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
