The Central Library located in Cubbon Park has installed a device that will allow visually impaired persons to read books in 8 different languages.
The device: The URead is a device that can scan books and printed documents and read them aloud to visually challenged people. It recognises seven Indian languages including Tamil, Marathi, English, and Kannada, among others. Since the Braille literacy rate is in the single digits in the country, this is a revolutionary device.
- The population of visually impaired people in the country is 92 lakh.
- Braille is difficult to learn, and there is a lack of braille books in higher education.
Huge step forward: The URead device has given visually challenged people a solution to the learning barriers. The device works once plugged into any regular wall socket and does not require an internet connection. Rotary Club of Bangalore West is planning to distribute it to blind schools across the state.
(Image credits: Innovation Hub’s Website)
