Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Thursday, Mar 25, 2004
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Thursday, Mar 25, 2004 |
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Marketing
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New Products & Services Webel launches Braille transcription system Our Bureau
Kolkata , March 24 WEBEL Mediatronics Ltd, a West Bengal Government undertaking, on Wednesday formally announced the launch of a comprehensive, computerised Braille transcription system. The cost-efficient system offers comprehensive solutions for the visually impaired for reading, writing, teaching, learning, printing, etc. The system, which is a mix of hardware and software applications, also addresses the problems of conventional Braille printing systems in terms of speed, convenience and costs. The basic system has been priced at Rs 1.25 lakh. Speaking to newspersons, Mr Shankar N. Goswami, Wholetime Director of Webel Mediatronics, said that the system covers transcription in 13 languages - English, Hindi, Tamil, Oriya, Bengali, Marathi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Assamese, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Nepali. The project was sponsored by the Union Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and West Bengal's Department of Information Technology. Work on it began in 1997. Mr Goswami said that the computerised Braille transcription system has been installed and was being used in over 102 blind schools in 22 States. In West Bengal, the system has been installed in 27 blind schools and two libraries. "The system has been designed to augment the literacy levels of the visually impaired and also assist in their communication with sighted people." According to him, there are an estimated 90 lakh visually challenged people in India and a mere three per cent of them are literate. As such, it would be critical to deploy the computerised Braille transcription system and help enhance the literacy levels among them. Several software and hardware items have been developed for specific applications as part of the computerised Braille transcription system. For instance, TextBraille facilitates the conversion of Indian language text to corresponding Braille codes and prints them through an Automatic Braille Embosser. MathBraille facilitates Braille transcription of mathematics books and scientific texts while TactBraille is a touch-reading system whereby the visually impaired can access files from the PC. The system forms an electronic library in a multi-user environment. Webel Mediatronics, which has developed studio and broadcasting systems, strategic electronic systems and systems for the disabled, has already put out the Braille-ready text on www.braille-aids.com. More than 250 general textbooks in Braille-ready form in 12 Indian languages are available on the Web site. More than 200 new titles will be added within the next two months. "A countrywide electronic Braille library is now a possibility using computers, the Internet and the tactile (read paperless) readers," Mr Goswami said.
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