[accessibleimage] "A Revolution in accessibility for the Visually Impaired"

Hope this is of interest.

Vince.

Source: 

http://www.responsesource.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=29138&hilite=

Press Release Network
Thursday, January 18, 2007

RNC STARTS A 'REVOLUTION IN ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED'

The potential is enormous, unimaginable really.' is how one professional 
describes a research project currently being led by The Royal National College 
for the Blind (RNC), in Hereford. The College is currently helping pave the way 
for possibly one of the single biggest advances in the education of people who 
are blind, partially sighted or have difficulty with the written word.

The AHVITED (Audio Haptics for Visually Impaired Training and Education at a 
Distance) project, is a unique and revolutionary project that brings together 
many of Europe's leading researchers, trainers and educators of people with a 
visual impairment. The project aims to transform the way in which learners gain 
access to graphical information - information, which has been previously 
inaccessible without sighted assistance.

Practically every academic and vocational subject taught contains a varying 
degree of graphical data, from maps and pictures, to graphs and charts, making 
the need for this research essential. For a sighted person this creates no 
problem, for someone without sight these graphical images are simply not 
accessible.  The benefits of the project are clear -being able to freely access 
graphical data, without sighted assistance, not only builds confidence but also 
puts a learner in control of their own learning, allowing them to work at their 
own pace and speed.

The project will research and evaluate the problems associated with delivering 
graphical learning materials to visually impaired learners studying through 
distance learning. From this, systems currently used in the classroom will be 
further developed for wider application in distance learning. And finally, 
pilot course materials and accessible software can be developed to deliver 
visual graphics through touch and sound in a distance learning environment.

Chris Stevenson, RNC's Business Development Manager: "The £520,000 funding 
granted for this three-year research project reflects the need for research in 
this area. People who are blind or partially sighted have no access to visual 
graphic images and are at a significant disadvantage in the learning process, 
particularly when studying at a distance. This research project will provide an 
innovative method of delivering visual graphics through touch and sound using 
tactile diagrams with integrated sound files. The potential to solve previously 
unsolvable problems is enormous and truly exciting."

Notes for News Editors:-
 The Royal National College for the Blind (known as RNC) is a residential 
specialist provider of Further Education and training. Each year more people 
who are blind or partially sighted choose RNC than any other residential 
specialist college in the UK - www.rncb.ac.uk

 For detailed information regarding the progress of AHVITED project:
www.ahvited.org

 For more information on other European projects that RNC is involved in:
www.rncb.ac.uk/european_projects

For further information please contact:
Emily Lynch
Marketing Communications & PR Officer
Email:  el@xxxxxxxxxx

Or Cathy Fletcher
Marketing Manager
Email:  cf@xxxxxxxxxx

The Royal National College for the Blind, Hereford Direct Tel: 01432 376622


I'm protected by SpamBrave
http://www.spambrave.com/

Other related posts: