IT tool to help people with cerebral palsy
Webel's latest innovation, the audio-visual software, christened 'Pictorial', has specially developed keypads that help cerebral palsy children communicate their feeling by selecting pictures.
The software and keypads could be attached to any computer. For children who cannot use hands, Webel has developed foot-switches that can be used to select pictures for expressions. The software has a database of 2000 pictures to select from and the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy has provided Webel with these specially designed icons. In each icon, there is a sound file, which can generate audible expressions. By clicking on any icon, the user will be able to play the sound file and make people understand their feelings.
The software has a pair of specially designed hand switches for two hands. While one switch would be used to scroll through the pictures, the other switch would be for selecting an expression or pressing the 'Enter' button. Similar mechanism is in place for the foot switches. This design was necessary since cerebral palsy children cannot use normal mouse to click on specific icons.
Motorized Wheel Chair
Webel Mediatronics Limited has engaged in the development of electronic devices & compatible softwares for disabled persons for the past few years. The already developed system for the visually impaired persons are widely accepted by the users, presently being used in 120 blind schools all over India.
WML is working jointly with CDAC (T) for development of motorized wheel chair under a project sponsored by Ministry Of Information Technology, Gov. Of India. The new scheme takes care of control of the vehicle, which is much easier than the conventional method of driving wheels. WML is now engaged in re-designing and fabricating 10 motorized wheel chairs. Prototype models are ready; field trial is being carried out at National Institute Of Orthopedically Handicapped, NIOH Kolkata.
WIMATS – a new Braille Transcription Software
Webel Mediatronics Limited (WML) and International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) have been working together for last few years to develop an advanced Mathematics / Scientific Text to Braille Script Transcription Software in English following Nemeth Code. As an outcome of this effort, WIMATS – a feature laden application software is ready for deployment in Braille Presses world over to transcript Mathematical and Scientific text input into Braille Script. The output can be printed in a variety of Braille Embossers. The Software has already been successfully tested at ‘IHRDC’, Coimbatore, India and ‘Resources for the Blind’, Manila, Philippines.
The Software will bridge a long felt need of availability of Mathematics and Science for Higher Secondary and College level studies for the Visually Impaired persons. The Software support inputs of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, vector, set notations and Greek alphabets.
Sri. S. N. Goswami, Director of WML stated that Visually Impaired persons will not have to worry now about the availability of books for mathematics and science courses any more. The GUI is very user friendly and training does not take a long time.
The Software will be launched formally during 12th World Conference of International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) at Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur on 17th July 2006 by Ms. Komla Devi, Secretary, Ministry of Education, Govt. of Malaysia. On 19th July 2006 a ‘hands-on’ training program on the Software has been arranged for the delegates participating from all over the world.
ICEVI has presence in 185 countries in the world and the Software developed by WML will be made available to all these countries through ICEVI.
WML is committed to the cause of bringing benefits of Information Technology to the disabled and is working for last 10 years on development and commercialization of a host of systems for Visually Impaired, Cerebral Palsy affected, Hearing Handicapped and Autistic persons.