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----- Original Message -----
From: "chetan kumar" <chetanjmakv...@gmail.com>
Cc: "Voice Vision. " <l...@voicevision.in>;
<accessindia@accessindia.org.in>; <keyboardus...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 9:18 AM
Subject: [VV] New device puts vision impaired in the picture
April 28, 2011
Dr. Marriot and Mr Goncu testing out a prototype of the GraVVITAS
(PhysOrg.com) -- Visually impaired people may soon have greater access to
graphical information thanks to a new device developed by Monash
University's
Faculty of Information and Technology.
The device, called GraVVITAS, is a standard tablet PC with touch screen
technology that uses vibration and sounds to guide the visually impaired
user around
a diagram.
It is designed to enable the user to build a picture of the entire graphic
in their mind.
Currently, visually impaired students are using tactile diagrams to
understand graphics. These raised shapes and textures are produced on a
particular type
of paper by special purpose printers, known as embossers. This method can
prove to be extremely costly and can take months to produce a textbook.
The Faculty of Information and Technology's Professor Kim Marriott and PhD
student Cagatay Goncu are working with Vision Australia to develop the new
technology,
that will make accessing diagrams for visually impaired students easier.
"The idea stemmed from a visually impaired student that I had years ago in
a unit that was very diagrammatic," Professor Marriott said.
"This particular student had major problems understanding the diagrams
using the methods that were available to them at the time. We wanted to
try to increase
accessibility to diagrams and graphics in educational material, which is a
huge issue for the visually impaired."
The device, which is currently a prototype, has small external vibrating
motors that attach to the user's fingers. These motors buzz when an object
displayed
on the screen is touched.
Cagatay Goncu said voice prompts and sounds also help to guide the user to
read the diagram.
"The basic idea is to guide the user to find the object by using sound.
Touching the object causes the sound to stop and a voice explains what
that object
is and any other information associated with it," Mr. Goncu said.
"If it's something on the left side, you will hear something in your left
ear and vice-versa."
Developing the technology has involved extensive testing with
visually impaired
volunteers, which has allowed researchers to have a better understanding
of how they read diagrams.
The next stage of development will involve collaborating with haptic
feedback specialists from the Faculty of Engineering who will further
refine the touch
technology associated with the device.
Provided by Monash University (
for more information, please visit at,
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-04-device-vision-impaired-picture.html
"A problem is your chance to do your best."
with best wishes,
chetan kumar,
musician,
my skype ID:
chetansagar7
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