Technology for Blind Users
This Sunday NY Times had an inspirational article about a blind engineer creating technology for blind users. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/business/04blind.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Going%20Where%20No%20Guide%20Dog%20Can&st=cse
T.V. Raman works for Google and specializes in developing technology for when people are not looking at the screen. This is great for blind people, and for people multitasking — say driving and making a call.
Of course, I think of it from a communication perspective. Making technology more accessible to blind people opens up an entire new dimension of communication. Raman uses screen reader technology to access computer technology and listens at a pace of three times a human voice so that he can process at approximately the same speed as someone who is reading the screen. Right now, he is working on a touch-screen phone that would open the mobile computer world, especially GPS, to the blind. My hat is off to Mr. Raman and all those working on accessibility. May the channels of communication be opened.