Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Armenia Established First Reading Room For Blind

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Armenia Established First Reading Room For Blind

    ARMENIA ESTABLISHED FIRST READING ROOM FOR BLIND

    RIA Oreanda
    Economic News
    October 7, 2008 Tuesday
    Russia

    Yerevan. ">OREANDA-NEWS . October 7, 2008. The ceremony of opening of a
    special reading room for the convenience of blind and visually impaired
    people took place in the National Library of Armenia. Services provided
    at this special disabled-friendly reading room can benefit over 5000
    blind and visually impaired people all over Armenia; special software
    and computers installed in the Library have ability to recognize
    characters and convert text into speech thus giving opportunity to
    benefit from advanced technology. For the realization of the project,
    as a socially-responsible company, VivaCell-MTS provided AMD 1.102
    million, thanks to which special software was created as well as
    computers and necessary accessory, were procured.

    It is hard to imagine that nowadays in Armenia the blind cannot use
    all the opportunities of computer to communicate with others, type,
    even draw, write or download music and read, which is available for
    people with low or no vision in other countries. There are a lot
    of libraries across Armenia but the books specially designed for
    the blind and visually impaired are old and outdated, while their
    modern analogues are on hand abroad. And to enable the library to
    cater to the blind and sight-impaired also, VivaCell-MTS supported
    in adaptation of Arev software to their needs (created by Yerevan
    Scientific Research Institute of Mathematical Machines). A person is
    typing (first, the blinds will be trained to the typing skills) or
    scanning the ready text and the computer technology converts almost
    all typewritten or typeset material into easily-understood speech.

    Reading and interacting with the outside world are the two major
    wishes of the blind.

    We hope that from now on they can have a real no-barrier reading
    experience in this special reading room, said the General Manager of
    VivaCell-MTS Ralph Yirikian. 'It is vital that the society understands
    the importance of accessibility of reading for the blind people. They
    our compatriots, should be given equal access to books for recreation
    and study. We are delighted to have supported with the creation of
    such a well-equipped reading room in Armenia thanks to which the
    blind and visually-impaired people will feel themselves closer to
    the society and enjoy the pleasure in reading.

    Now when Arev software is developed and the special-reading room is
    set up, special well-thought-out training program will be organized
    for the blind and visually-impaired people for them to learn how
    to use computer, scanner and printer and how to surf internet and
    communicate via e-mail in order to make them more independent in the
    quest for information.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Working...
X