E-Braille

Presented By
Shri S. N. Goswami
Whole Time Director
Webel Mediatronics Limited, Kolkata
India is home of half of the
world blind population

Issues:

- Education
- Inclusion in Mainstream
Activities
Visual Impairment Scenario
TOTAL - 106.34 Lakhs
(1.03% of Total Population)

Urban - 27.61 Lakhs

Rural - 78.73 Lakhs

Male : 57.32 Lakhs

Female : 49.02 Lakhs

Source : Census 2001

 Visual Impairment Scenario –
Statewise
Delhi : 1.20 (0.87%) Tamilnadu: 9.63 In Lakhs
UP : 18.52 (1.11%) (1.54%)
MP : 6.36 (1.05%) AP : 5.82 (0.76%)
Karnataka:
Chhat’garh: 1.60
(0.77%)
4.41(0.83%)
Kerala : 3.35
Bihar : 10.05 (1.21%) (1.05%)
Jharkhand: 1.86 (0.69%) Maharastra:
WB : 8.62 (1.07%) 5.81(0.60%)
Orissa : 5.13 (1.39%) Rajasthan: 7.53
(1.33%)
Assam : 2.82 (1.06%)
Gujarat : 4.94
Source : Census 2001
(0.97%)
Visual Impairment Scenario –
Statewise
In Lakhs

Source :
Census
2001
Visual Impairment Scenario

• Prevalence in Rural Areas and among

Economically Weaker Section
• Spread Far and Wide. Intervention through
Small Clusters
• Due to financial condition it is often
difficult for the families to provide
necessary support for development of
skills for the VI persons
 PWD Act 1995
• Employment – 1% reserved for people with
blindness / low vision
• Education
- Right to free books, learning material
- Schools to be equipped with vocational
training facilities
- Non-formal education, where necessary
- Training of teachers
• Development and research for
- Affordable Aids and Appliances
- Special education, rehabilitation and
manpower development
WML Approach

• Information Technology Enabled Braille

Education

• Indian Languages

• Integrated System for Reading, Writing,

Printing, Teaching, Learning

• Modular, Scaleable & Interactive System

Computerised Braille Transcription System

Input Devices For the Visually Impaired to Write

in Braille

• QWERTY Keyboard
– With Audio Support
– Braille Input Using 6 Keys (SDF JKL)
– Single User

• Braille Keyboard (BKB)

– Ergonomic Design For Braille Entry
– With Audio Support
– Multi-User
 Braille Keyboard & E – Class Room

• For Interactive Teaching Session.

• Braille Entry by 8 Students simultaneously thru

8 BKBs

• Braille-to-Text conversion

• Braille Printing and Text Printing

Computerised Braille Transcription System

Output Devices
• Indigenously developed
Automatic Braille Embosser

• Tactile Reader – Refreshable

Braille Display

• Interface with Imported

Braillers of different Speeds /
Manufacturers
 Tactile Reader & E – Library

• Paperless Reading.

• Multiple Users Reading Different Files from a

Computer

• Content To Be Available In Electronic Form

• Each Reader can Control their Terminal for

Navigation at his own speed.
Computerised Braille Transcription System

Application Software in 13 Indian Languages

• Text to Braille Transcription Software

• Braille to Text Transcription Software
• E-Reading Software for paperless reading
using Refreshable Braille Display
• E-Classroom Software using Multiple
Braille Keyboards for Interactive
Classrooms
• Mathematics Transcription Software
 12 Indian
COMPUTERISED BRAILLE TRANSCRIPTIONLanguagesSYSTEM
Print Through
SOFTWARE
13 Indian Languages
Interpoint Brailler
MathBraille Networking
ReadBraille
WriteBraille
DirectBraille OUTPUT DEVICES
Tactile Reader
Text Parallel Operation
To Upto 8 nos.
Braille

Perkins
Braille:
INPUT DEVICES Operation
in Parallel
Upto 4 nos.
Computer

Braille Keyboard BKB-10

Parallel operation Upto 8 nos
ASDF
EasyBraille GLKJ Braille Print
Inkjet Printer
Normal Qwerty Keyboard
ASDF
GLKJ Ink Print
 www.braille-aids.in
- Connecting the Blind Schools, NGOs, Individuals

• Electronic Braille Archive in 13

Languages
• Magazine
• Learn Braille
• Information on NGOs, Blind Schools
• Links to Relevant Govt. Websites
 www.braille-aids.in
.
WIMATS
Mathematics Transcription Software

• User Friendly Interface to

Input Mathematics and
Scientific Notations
•Supports 180Math Symbols
Arithmetic,Algebra,
Geometry, Calculus
• Nemeth Braille Standard
• Interface with Windows
Compatible Embossers
WML System Imported Systems

• Indian Language – English

• Integrated System – Different software
catering to diff. Reqmt.
• Interactive
E-Classroom System – Not Available
• E-Reading System
Multi User – Single User
• Affordable – Expensive in India

A Unique System For IT Enabled Braille Education in the Country

Deployment: 22 States: 13 Languages: 110 Schools
Achievements
• Received National Award from Ministry of
Social Justice & Empower, 2000
• Received National Award from DARPG in
2004
• Systems Installed at 110 Schools across
22 states all over the country
• 5 Systems exported to Blind Schools at
Bangladesh
• Mathematics Braille Transcription Software
Development Work Ongoing

• Text to Speech Software

• Screen Reader
• Talking Dictionary
• Email Application in Braille
• Optical Character Recognition
• Scanner - Reader
Scope
• Deployment of Software and Hardware in
All Blind Schools
• Deployment at all VRCs
• Braille Corner Facilities in Libraries, State
Archives
• DirectBraille Software instead of
Assistants in Examination
• Audio Supported Braille To Text Software
at Office / Bank / Court for Rehabilitation.
A Visually Impaired Student Typing In Braille
 Thank You

Webel Mediatronics Limited

P-1, Taratala Road, Kolkata – 700 088, INDIA
Phone: 91-33 2401 5602 / 0712, Fax: 91-33 2401 4081
E-Mail: webelmedia@gmail.com; wml@vsnl.com
Website: www.braille-aids.in, www.webelmediatronics.in
 Text-to-Braille System
• Windows based easy to use Text-to-Braille Software for
printing Braille in Indian languages & English.

• Braille knowledge not required for system operation.

• The software will remove the problem of entering data in

Braille as is done now for mass production of Braille
materials in Indian languages.

• Interface available for Braille-O, Index, Perkins

and other imported systems.
 Braille-to-Text System : DirectBraille
• Typing in Braille with audio support using regular
Keyboard by the Visually Impaired.

• Converts Braille to Indian languages text - Hindi,

Punjabi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Oriya, Assamese,
Nepali, Mizo, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and
English.

• Braille as well as text printing by the Visually Impaired.

• Easy to learn.

• A Rehabilitation tool.
 Mathematics Braille
• To create mathematics & scientific text, books, notes,
question papers etc. in Braille in Indian languages &
English.

• Editor to type in English and Indian languages, text and

mathematical symbols.

• Nemeth Braille standard for transcription.

• Editable in Braille as well as text mode.

• Soft Keyboard for different languages and Math

-symbols.
 EasyBraille

• An Interactive
Multimedia CD-ROM
for Learning Braille in
Indian Languages for
Sighted Persons.

• Supports 12 Indian
Languages & English.

“… it (EasyBraille) has been used in the Resource Centre (at NIVH,

Dehradun) and found useful for teaching Braille to Teacher Trainees /
O&M instructor trainees. This package is quite effective for self – learning of
Braille.”
-- NIVH, Dehradun
 Shruti Dristi
---- Browsing Through Listening

• Extractor System – Extracts data and

links as well as text from a web page
• Vachantar System – links and texts in
synthetic speech
• Text to Braille – through refreshable
Braille Display and hardcopy by
Automatic Braille Embosser

Developed Jointly by CDAC, Pune and WML

TTS Application

• BengaliReader- Reads Bengali text files

through synthetic speech.

• Bengali and Hindi languages.

• Visually Impaired Persons can operate

independently.
Talking Dictionary

• Find meaning and parts of speech

information of a word typed in Braille.

• Synthetic Speech output available.

• Special searching facility for rhyming

words & wild card.
 INDEX 4 x 4 PRO
HIGH SPEED PRINTER
Training Centre At Belgaum, Karnataka
 Comments on the Braille Transcription System of WML
“…I urge on equipping
all Government aided
and N.G.O s
Working for the Visually
Impaired in the Country
with this System
developed indigenously
under the aegis of the
Ministry of Information
& Technology,
Government of India.”
Padmashree
Dr. Rajendra T. Vyas
Hon. Secretary General
National Association For
The Blind, Mumbai
“…it is our wish that blind
children studying in
schools for the blind and
integrated education
programme gets this vital
learning experience. We
highly recommend the
implementation of this
programme wherever
possible. “
Dr. M. N. G. Mani
Secretary General – Asia
Pacific
Council for Education of
People with Visual
Impairment (ICEVI)
“ We assure you
that these software
and devices designed
by WML will open up
new horizons in the
field of Braille Literacy
and computer
education for the
visually challenged
person.”
Mr. J. V. Kavi
Principal
Secondary School For
The Blind
Ahmedabad
(A Training Centre)