Mysuru :
Have you ever thought about how difficult it is for the visually impaired to learn complex mathematical problems? Under the existing Braille system, students learn the numbers through a very cumbersome method which consumes a lot of time and involves a lot of paper work. This is perhaps one of the reasons why the visually impaired students are denied higher levels of mathematical learning.
This archaic problem seemed to have no solution until four students of Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering (VVCE), Gokulam — R. Suhas, Sumukha S. Kowshik, P. Sushmitha and T.R. Daya Shankar — came up with an innovative kit that can benefit the visually challenged.
After visiting and interacting with the visually challenged students at Government School for the Blind at Tilak Nagar, the four final year E&C students, under the guidance of HoD of E&C – VVCE Dr. D.J. Ravi have based their project on these interactions.
According to Sumukha Kowshik, the ‘Internationally Standardised number System for the Visually Challenged’ has brail numbers embossed on normal keypad. When one of the buttons is pressed, a pop-up system enables the visually impaired to feel the number they have pressed. “This is just the initial step,” says Sumukha adding, “The visually challenged has to get used to the international numerical system. Now, when they get used to it, they can use gesture writing mechanism to solve complex problems and can verify their actions via a voice modular system. In our kit, we have used a normal seven segment pop up system to get the visually challenged persons accustom themselves with the numerals. With the kit, the visually challenged students can easily perform mathematical operations much faster than earlier using Braille system.”
The kit was given to two students having different learning capabilities and both were able to operate the kit and recognise the numbers. The superintendent of the Government School for the Blind, Tilak Nagar, gave a certificate to the students for their efforts to help the visually challenged.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Thursday – July 16th, 2015