Hi Tom.

Here's the article you requested.

Forwarded message follows:

>Date:         Sat, 26 Oct 2002 08:45:07 -0700
>Sender:       "BLIND-DEV: Development of Adaptive Hardware & Software for the
>              Blind/VI" <[log in to unmask]>
>From:         Prof Norm Coombs <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject:      NIST UNVEILS DEVICE FOR BLIND TO UNDERSTAND IMAGES
>To:           [log in to unmask]

>Article from EDUPAGE:
>
>NIST UNVEILS DEVICE FOR BLIND TO UNDERSTAND IMAGES
>Functioning like a sophisticated, novelty-store "bed of nails," a new
>device developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology
>(NIST) allows the blind and visually impaired to "see" images. The
>device has 3,600 pins, about 10 per square inch, that are raised and
>lowered to mimic images, allowing users to feel what the image looks
>like. Officials from the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), which
>will test the device, praised it, saying that it has the potential to
>empower blind people in ways that were previously unavailable. Other
>devices function similarly but cost around $40,000, said John Roberts
>of NIST. Early versions of the new device should cost about $2,000, and
>the price should drop later, he said. A representative of the NFB said
>the device could prove especially beneficial for educational purposes
>because of the wide gap between written and image-based information.
>United Press International, 24 October 2002 (registration req'd)
>http//www.nandotimes.com/technology/story/590039p-4591647c.html
>
>END OF ARTICLE
>
>EASI's Barrier-free E-learning course begins Nov. 4 and runs for 4 weeks
>all online:
>http://easi.cc/workshops/bfel.htm

Cheers,

John
--
Access the word, access the world! -- Try our WordAloud software!!

John Nissen, Cloudworld Ltd., Chiswick, London
Tel:   +44 (0) 845 458 3944 (local rate in the UK)
Fax:   +44 (0) 20 8742 8715
Web:   http://www.cloudworld.co.uk


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