News from KBT and Beyond

Universities Will Not Deploy Kindle DX as Textbook Reader

2009-11-12T12:35:00.000-08:00

Thought this was interesting. It shouldn't be difficult for Amazon to make the next version of their Kindle DX accessible to the blind!

11/11/2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Baltimore, Maryland (November 11, 2009): The National Federation of the Blind, the oldest and largest organization of blind Americans, today applauded the decision of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Syracuse University to not deploy Amazon’s Kindle DX as a means of distributing electronic textbooks (e-books) to their students. The Kindle DX features text-to-speech technology that can read textbooks aloud. The menus of the device are not accessible to the blind, however, making it impossible for a blind user to purchase books from Amazon’s Kindle store, select a book to read, activate the text-to-speech feature, and use the advanced reading functions available on the Kindle DX. Both universities have experimented with the Kindle DX to learn whether e-book technology is useful to their students. But the schools will not adopt the device for general use unless and until it is made accessible to blind students.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “The National Federation of the Blind commends the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Syracuse University for rejecting broad deployment of the Kindle DX in its current form because it cannot be used by blind students and therefore denies the blind equal access to electronic textbooks. We do not oppose electronic textbooks; in fact, they hold great promise for blind students if they are accessible. But as long as the interface of the Kindle DX is inaccessible to the blind—denying blind students access to electronic textbooks or the advanced features available to read and annotate them—it is our position that no university should consider this device to be a viable e-book solution for its students.”

The University of Wisconsin-Madison experimented with e-books for assigned course reading in an upper-level history seminar and encouraged students to give feedback about their experiences using e-books. Ken Frazier, the university’s director of libraries, said of the Kindle: "The big disappointment was learning that the Kindle DX is not accessible to the blind. Advancements in text-to-speech technology have created a market opportunity for an e-book reading device that is fully accessible for everyone. This version of the Kindle e-book reader missed the mark. It is relatively easy to envision an improved e-book reading device that meets the needs of the entire university community. Such a device would include universal design for accessibility, higher-quality graphics, and improved navigation and note-taking. I think that there will be a huge payoff for the company that creates a truly universal e-book reader."

Pamela McLaughlin, director of communications and external relations at Syracuse University, said: “The university purchased two Kindle DX devices to learn whether they might be an appropriate means of distributing textbooks and course materials. Students are experimenting with these devices so that we can learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of this technology. At this time, however, we have no plans to purchase any more of these units in light of the fact that they are inaccessible to blind students. If Syracuse University decides to use e-book technology on campus, we will require technology that can be used by all of our students, including those who are blind.”

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About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people’s lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind. Please visit our Web site: www.nfb.org.

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen@nfb.org
Universities Will Not Deploy Kindle DX as Textbook Reader
National Federation of the Blind Commends Schools
for Demanding Accessibility for Blind Students

Crop engineering could solve world's malnutrition and protect eyesight

2009-05-04T10:09:00.000-07:00

A multivitamin for the world's poor could be found in a cup of corn meal. Scientists in Spain have engineered African lines of white corn to provide high levels of beta carotene, a key source of vitamin A, a nutrient critical to protecting eyesight.

The grain, which has an orange tint because of the beta-carotene, also contains significant levels of vitamin C and folate. Less than a cup of the corn could provide the recommended daily intake of vitamin A, scientists reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers said the achievement "opens the way for the development of nutritionally complete" grains.

read the full article at Clarion Ledger

River blindness persists in Africa | GlobalPost

2009-05-04T10:03:00.001-07:00

Health officials battle to combat 'forgotten disease' that leaves many villagers blind.

By Samuel Loewenberg - Special to GlobalPost

Published: May 1, 2009 08:47 ET

MNGAZI, Tanzania — A man with clouded eyes sits on the ground next to a wattle and daube hut in the riverside village of Mngazi. His five children mill around and his wife tends a pot over a wooden fire. He used to be a corn farmer, but then his eyes started itching three years ago.

Now, he is totally blind and cannot work. He does not know what happened, nor is he the only villager whose vision began to disappear. He said he went to a witchdoctor, but it did not help.

The man's blindness is not a result of magic, but a small worm that invaded his body. He is one of 37 million people worldwide, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa, suffering from onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness.

Looking challenges in the eye

2009-04-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

Here's a great article I ran into about a woman who is blind and runs four companies!

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Apr252009/she20090424132174.asp

Beyond the mind's eye

2009-03-13T18:18:00.000-07:00

20 years after Elizabeth Goldring, a senior fellow at MIT's Center for Advanced Visual Studies and colleagues began work on a "seeing machine," she smiles as she shows a visitor photos she's taken - and can see - with her blind eye.

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/camera-blind-0113.html

Matt Steven can't see the hoop. But he'll still take the last shot.

2009-03-11T10:20:00.000-07:00

A friend just passed along a truly amazing story about Matt Stevens, a blind boy from Upper Darby, PA who not only shoots the free-throws for his sighted high school basketball team, but also makes half of the shots. That makes him one of the best free-throwers on the team!

Read more about Matt Stevens here

Blind team attempt to set new record on Kilimanjaro

2009-03-11T10:13:00.000-07:00

As reported by ABC news in this article, a team of eight blind climbers are set to climb Kilimanjaro later this month - potentially setting a new record for the most blind climbers on the summit at once - as part of the 'High Sight Expedition'. The record is still held by the 2005 climb, organized by Erik Weihenmayer, that led to the formation of the Kilimanjaro Blind Trust. Read more about the most recent attempt to set a new record here.

Google Engineer Adapts Cell Phone for Blind

2009-02-23T21:09:00.000-08:00

By SUNITA SOHRABJI
indiawest.com February 19, 2009 02:10:00 PM

How functional would your cell phone be if you couldn’t see its numbers?

For many blind users, including Google engineer T.V. Raman, the small keyboards of a cell phone can be daunting.

So Raman is developing software to adapt T Mobile’s G1 touchscreen phone — which uses Google’s Android software — to make it friendlier for blind people and others with limited vision, such as the elderly.

“The small keyboard of a cell phone is not easy to use, particularly if you need one hand free,” Raman told India-West in a telephone interview from Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. The blind generally need one hand free to hold a guide dog.

Read more here

Louise Braille Turns 200

2009-01-07T13:22:00.000-08:00

To celebrate Louise Braille's 200th birthday last weekend, PRI The world released an interesting short on his legacy. Listen to it at PRIs website.

Happy Birthday Louise!

The possibility of a portable eye?

2008-11-12T12:55:00.000-08:00

A fantastic new piece of software developed by Ray Kurzweil, may revolutionize the way blind people use their cell phones. Read about it here.

"Seeing" Stars

2008-10-31T08:14:00.000-07:00

Here's a fantastic story about astronomer Noreen Grice, and her efforts to bring astronomy to the visually impaired:

http://www.bu.edu/bostonia/fall08/grice/

Blessing for the blind in Baghdad

2008-10-20T09:18:00.000-07:00

CNN Video

Perkins releases new brailler

2008-10-03T08:38:00.000-07:00

In some very exciting news, Perkins Products released a new edition of the Perkins Brailler that is lighter, smaller, cheaper, and easier to use. You can read all about the improvements on their website, or take a look through the Boston.com article:

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2008/10/03/a_lighter_touch/?s_campaign=8315

Singapore-MIT game lets visually impaired share the fun

2008-06-02T09:26:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting new development out of MIT that lets visually impaired people play video games. Another great way in which technology is changing lives for many...

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/audio-game-0513.html

Greens Monster

2008-05-23T14:32:00.000-07:00

At 90, blind golfing legend Joe Lazaro of Waltham can still show us duffers a thing or two. Just ask Tiger Woods.

Read the full article on Boston.com

Legally blind man, 78, bowls perfect game

2008-05-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

Incredible!

Legally blind man, 78, bowls perfect game

The Blind Welcome a Ruling That May Help Them Count Their Cash

2008-05-23T12:11:00.001-07:00

The Blind Welcome a Ruling That May Help Them Count Their Cash
By TINA KELLEY
People with impaired vision and the agencies that work with them welcomed a ruling that said the government discriminated against the blind by making its paper money all the same size and texture.

Blind Runner Adrian Broca Finishes Boston Marathon

2008-04-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update on Adrian Broca - he completed the Boston marathon today in 2:56:18 for a pace of 6:44. Congratulations on another great accomplishment!

Chasing glory they can feel, not see

2008-04-20T16:21:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is a big day for Boston, but it's also a big day for Adrian Broca, the fastest blind marathon runner in North America. As the Boston Globe reported:

"Tomorrow, the 31-year-old hopes to defend his title in the Boston Marathon's visually impaired division and meet the "A" qualifying standard for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics of 2 hours 46 minutes. That would place Broca roughly 35 minutes behind the Boston finish times of the world's top male marathoners."

Read all about Adrian Broca in Boston.com

KBT Treasurer Paul Polman Finishes London Marathon, Raises funds for Trust

2008-04-15T09:46:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, April 13th, Paul Polman completed the London Marathon with several close friends as part of his fund raising initiative for the Kilimanjaro Blind Trust. Thanks Paul for all of your efforts, and a special thanks to everyone who supported his run!

Blind runner completes 7 marathons in 7 days in historic fund raiser

2008-04-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

Dave Heeley, also known as "Blind Dave" made history in the London Marathon on April 13th by becoming the first blind person (and probably one of the few/only) to run seven marathons across seven continents in seven days. Who wouldn't say "Wow"? He started with the Falkland Islands, then completed marathons in Rio de Janeiro (South America), Los Angeles (North America), Sydney (Australasia), Dubai, Tunis, and finished his historic quest by completing the London Marathon on April 13th, hoping to raise almost $2.7 million along the way.

An article in the New Zealand Herald quoted Dave as saying:
"my Seven Magnificent Marathons will [...] prove to the world that sight loss is no barrier to independence and human achievement."

Paul Polman, Executive Officer of the Kilimanjaro Blind Trust, also completed the London Marathon in under 4 hours as part of his successful fund raising efforts for the Trust. A separate blog posting will follow...

Congratulations to both Paul and Dave for their amazing fundraising efforts for various blind-related causes!

Here's more about Dave's run:
BBC Article
Electric Newspaper Article
Interview with Dave

Former professor creates vibrating Braille handset

2008-04-08T17:13:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting innovation for you to read about - a vibrating cell phone for the blind - which may also lead to innovations in keyboard technology too. Check out the article in engadget.

A challenging education on the slopes of Everest

2008-03-14T11:27:00.001-07:00

Another review of "Blindsight" was recently published in The Boston Globe. Read it for yourself here!

Award-Winning Documentary "Blindsight" Premiers, Features KBT President

2008-03-11T07:15:00.000-07:00

The Kilimanjaro Blind Trust is excited for the release of Blindsight, an award-winning documentary that features Kilimanjaro Blind Trust President Erik Weihenmayer leading a group of 6 Tibetan teenagers to the heights of the 23,000 foot Lhakpa Ri, a peak situated on the north side of Mount Everest.

The film has already received much acclaim from numerous movie critics. Here is one quote from a recent New York Times movie review: "Featuring exceptional people doing extraordinary things, “Blindsight” is one of those documentaries with the power to make you re-examine your entire life — or at least get off the couch." - New York Times

KBT Provides Training on Braille Repair

2008-03-02T19:59:00.001-08:00

Participants’ Comments:

A trainee from Tanzania expressed her thanks to all who participated and who organized the workshop, because the skill she gained is very important and was greatly needed on her campus.

A trainee from Kenya told that he is proud to have received this training which enables him to understand much better how to provide service and maintenance of Brailler machines which is very useful to blind children.

Africa urged to revise blind policy

2007-08-14T06:22:00.002-07:00

Although a somewhat outdated article, still incredibly relevant: As BBC reports, more and more charities are pushing for Africa to revise their policies towards blindness. Some 80% of blindness that exists in Africa today is preventable, but for those who are already blind, services are in desperate need. Some are taking initiative, with much success...

Read more here

Old PCs help Africa's blind

2007-08-14T06:22:00.001-07:00

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39285911,00.htm

Has Africa finally turned a corner?

2007-03-08T06:33:00.001-08:00

But there is also hope...
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1109/p01s04-woaf.html

For post-colonial Africa, hopes deferred

2007-03-08T06:24:00.000-08:00

Here is a great article in the Christian Science Monitor about development in Africa.

Is sight possible?

2007-02-19T09:10:00.000-08:00

Is sight possible for kids one thought permanently blind? -Boston.com
MIT associate professor Pawan Sinha is doing research that has challenges the traditional approach to child blindness.

Kilimanjaro Climb Press Coverage

2007-02-17T10:05:00.000-08:00

The Kilimanjaro climb recently received press coverage in the Philippines' Manila Bulletin!
Click here to read more.

MIT Study

2007-02-15T08:05:00.000-08:00

MIT Study shows those who once were blind can learn to see
MIT News Office
Feb 14, 2007

The Rebirth of Braille

2007-02-15T08:01:00.000-08:00

An interesting article in the Boston Globe:
The rebirth of Braille
Feb 11, 2007

Peak Expereince

2007-02-01T15:18:00.000-08:00

Read media coverage of the Kilimanjaro climb in the Pueblo Chieftain, home of team member Joe Wodiuk.