Jul - Sep 2001

Shortening Distances - Madhulika Goyal,
The Short Messaging Service (SMS) has brought the mobile phone revolution to the hearing-impaired community. Its USP is that the technology used by the hearing-impaired person is identical to that used by a hearing person. The SMS and the introduction of digital Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) should lead to an increase in mobile phone use among the hearing-impaired population. SMS has endowed these user groups with increased independence and mobility. It is particularly significant because they do not have immediate access to other forms of communication, especially in public spaces....more

a voice for your thoughts - Darshana Bajaj,
Widely acclaimed as the greatest scientific thinker after Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking rose above the limitations and life-denying aspects of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative motor neuron disease. All this has been made possible with a DOS-based software application called Equalizer . Run on a laptop modified to suit his needs, this technology converts data inputs into sound bytes. This enables Professor Hawking to communicate at the speed of 12 words per minute. The question that now confronts the technology developers is whether this speed can be improved.
Vickram Crishna, an engineer from IIT, New Delhi, heads a team to develop Professor Hawking's new computer and voice synthesiser. The Hawking Communicator caters to people who have limited hand and finger control. It precludes handling operations of the keyboard and mouse. There may also be limited or no voice necessity. According to Crishna, the scope of this IT-enabled project extends to several people isolated by language and literacy barriers...more

zip, zap, zoom… drive away! - Dr. Meenu Bhambani,
For the first time, I drove my car all by myself and took it to my office on June 30, 2001 without any assistance. So, what is the big deal? I am a disabled person and my left lower limb is impaired. I thought owning or driving my own car would always remain a dream till I came across Mr. Rajesh Sharma of Anand Motors. A device which is called Anand's hand device has foot-controls such as the Accelerator, Break, Clutch (ABC) or a regular car transferred to a handlebar just under the steering wheel which can be hand-operated....more

casting the internet:- Vikram Doctor
The casual way in which many people seem to equate having physical disabilities with having mental ones, makes them question if people with disabilities could use computers at all. Cyberspace obviates many of the real barriers PWDs have to negotiate in the outside world—the problems of wheelchair access, the use of speech-only communication (telephone, TV, announcement systems) with no text equivalents. Anonymity, access to information, entertainment, business opportunities (E commerce), networking for disability activism, and job placement are some of the exciting possibilities offered by the Internet for people with disabilities.
But for all those concerned with disability issues in India, the promise of technology that the Internet represents, go hand in hand with the frustration of knowing how few will be able to access it. Fortunately, however, increasing availability and falling prices have made a difference in making technology accessible and affordable for people with disabilities. While the Net is no panacea for all the problems of the disabled, and cannot help them lead a completely independent life, it can certainly help them get there—and thereby make a big difference....more

a voice for the voiceless - Susan Alexander,
Bluetooth? A quiz enthusiast will tell you that it was the name of a tenth century Danish king, King Herald Bluetooth. It is also the name of a well-known wireless personal area network technology from the Bluetooth special interest group, www.bluetooth.com, which was founded in 1998. This technology supports the transmission of data through computing terminals and mobile terminals across distances up to 100 metres away. It uses radio waves which can be transmitted through walls and other non-metal barriers. It does not need any connecting wires which means that it is a mobile form of technology. The user chooses the verbal phrase that he wishes to use and taps the appropriate symbols on the keyboard. There are only nine keys for easy use by spastic children. The message is then transmitted via the Bluetooth technology to the second computer which could be 100 metres away. For children with cerebral palsy, it can help to develop a communication system that is not limited to basic commands. Also, it can be recorded in any language by a person whose speech is familiar to the user. A blind person can use it to get directions on how to get to a particular place or get the layout of a place.....more

The Integrated Language Teacher - N Krishnaswamy, IPS (Retd.),
The Integrated Language Teacher is an IT-enabled solution to upgrade users from any level of illiteracy to literacy; from any level of disability to ability. Its IT-enabled feature endows it with a potential to reach across to a wide cross section of people beyond geographical barriers through computer or TV networks, free of charge.
The Integrated Language Teacher enables mothers and children to interact with a computer or a TV, in their first language (mother tongue), using the spoken word, signs, Braille symbols, images or any other mode of communication either singly or together. It thus cuts across barriers of language and disability, and creates an integrated and inclusive learning environment that fosters teaching and learning for all, especially the socially and physically disadvantaged. The innovation has the potential to enable users access not only literacy and education but also the knowledge and skills needed for mainstreaming. The Integrated Language Teacher was demonstrated by Vidya Vriksha, a Chennai-based NGO, at the National Conference on Information Technology Enablers for People with Disabilities, at Chennai in 2001...more

talking books: - Dipendra Manocha
Talking books are the most effective alternative to the printed word for persons with visual impairment or dyslexia. Production and distribution of talking books is cheaper than traditional print alternatives such as Braille. Currently, however, new mediums such as CDs and mini digital disks with improved digital technology and increased storage have replaced audio cassettes and gramophone records. This has led to the development of talking books in digital format and storing them on CDs. The DAISY book format enables recording and storage by state-of-the-art digital technology...more

where there's a wheel, there's a way! - Madhulika Goyal
Callidai Motor Works (P) Ltd., a Chennai-based company, has pioneered the launch of motorised wheelchair and wheelchair-cum-bed in India. The wheelchair-cum-bed is a new model that extends itself to become a makeshift bed or recliner. It also facilitates easy transfers from the bed, since users can lift themselves without much help, from the bed onto the wheelchair when it is in a reclining position. The wheelchair innovations are ideal for several wheelchair users, senior citizens and those recuperating from surgery. Another invention in the offing is a powered chairlift that raises wheelchairs from ground levels onto vans, jeeps or railway platforms...more

leading with the chin - Meera Balachander
People with movement disorders (multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, paralysis, Parkinson's disease) are circumscribed by restricted body movements. They, however, have reason to feel happy about, thanks to a technology-enabled device—the Page Turner—developed by young inventor Salil Sansare.
The Page Turner is an electro-mechanical device (battery operated) that enables users to turn the pages of a book without help. Operated by the chin, it gives users some measure of control over the environment and builds their sense of mastery and self-esteem. The book is clamped on an incline board and the entire assembly mechanism is pivoted centrally on the carrier. The device is suitable for single and multi-page turning and accommodates books of different sizes. The lightweight portable device is priced at only 4 % of the average cost of globally available page turners. Now that's cost effective technology in action!...more

enabling speech impaired persons to communicate - Wipas Sarutpong
OPAL is a communication device that helps speech-impaired users through a combination of pictorial images and the latest technology. Whether it is a child with cerebral palsy, speech-impaired person, or an adult with brain damage, OPAL plays an integral role in shattering silences. OPAL is available in handheld and desktop versions. The attractive digital recorder/playback unit has enough recording time for brief messages such as “Good Morning”, “I want to get to the playground.” It can be recorded in any language with appropriate male/female child or adult voices....more

Of  Mice & Men - Nilesh Singit,
W ith the advent of the Internet, my world has completely changed. I use it for many different things, right from checking movie timings to reading online newspapers, to checking email, chatting with friends and relatives world - wide, researching disability–related issues and basically remaining up-to-date in the volatile world of computers. I have actually attained a fair degree of independence. I no longer need to depend on friends to take me to a shop to buy, say, the latest novel by Salman Rushdie or the latest album by Shaggy. I can even do an online computer course from NIIT. All I have to do is log on to www.somecompany.com with a credit card in hand to order...more

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