Education of Children

MIT's developing FingerReader device helps people with vision impairment by reading  with the swipe of a finger Published July 08, 2014 Associated Press In this Thursday, June 26, 2014 photos, a model wears a FingerReader ring at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab in Cambridge, Mass. Researchers designed and developed the instrument, which enables people with visual disabilities to read text printed on paper or electronic devices. (AP Photo Stephan Savoia) (The Associated Press) CAMBRIDGE, Mass. –   Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are developing an affordable finger reader for people whose vision is impaired. The so-called FingerReader, a prototype produced by a 3D printer, fits like a ring on the user's finger, equipped with a small camera that scans text. Special software processes scanned words and synthesized voice immediately reads words aloud, quickly translating books, restaurant menus and other needed materials for...

  by Dr Rania Chiourea World Sight Day is celebrated annually on the second Thursday of the month of October, in a bid to focus global attention on blindness, vision impairment and rehabilitation of visually impaired people.  This year falls on 10 October 2013. The theme for World Sight Day 2013 is: "Universal Eye Health". ‘World Sight Day’ as the name suggests, is a day that is dedicated to: Awareness is created about blindness and vision impairment issues which are considered to be international public health concerns. To motivate health ministers and other government officials to understand the problems and take keen interest in listing viable solutions and allocating resources to fight for the cause. To raise awareness and educate people about issues related to vision impairment, the importance of a 2020 vision, the corrective steps to be taken in order to restore partially lost sight etc. Statistics related to World Sight Day: The World Health Organization est...

by Rania Chiourea, PhD Teacher for the Blind School Counselor/Inspector The findings of a study change the regard for the blind, for the nature of their difficulties and for their learning possibilities. This study demonstrates that failure during basic learning at school results mainly from inadequate teaching methods, rather than the deficits of blind. It also shows that through appropriate teaching most blind students can be mobilized in time for school work and are able to perform at the level of their sighted peer.   A lot of people presume that blindness (or the presence of another disability) automatically limits the child's ability to learn like others. Consequently the law requires that services be provided to help compensate for the child's limitations, the child's deficit. Of course the hope is that special education services will make a difference, but the underlying assumption is that the blind child will always be behind, unable to keep up and forever denie...

Email this page to a friend Bookmark & Share Printer-friendly version Alternative Names Vision impairment; Impaired vision; Blurred vision  There are many types of eye problems and vision disturbances, such as: Halos Blurred vision (the loss of sharpness of vision and the inability to see fine details) Blind spots or scotomas (dark "holes" in the vision in which nothing can be seen) Vision loss and blindness are the most severe vision problems. Causes Vision changes and problems can be caused by many different conditions. Some include: Presbyopia -- difficulty focusing on objects that are close. This problem often becomes noticeable in your early to mid 40s. Cataracts -- cloudiness over the eye lens, causing poor nighttime vision, halos around lights, and sensitivity to glare. Cataracts are common in the elderly. Glaucoma -- increased pressure in the eye, which is most often painless. Vision will be normal at first, but over time you can develop poor night vision, b...