Deputy Commerce Secretary to Announce New Technology for the Blind

Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 21, 2002

MEDIA ADVISORY CONTACT:
Michael E. Newman at (301) 975-3025 or

MA 2002-04

Deputy Commerce Secretary to Announce New Technology for the Blind

Device Allows Blind to 'Feel' Electronic Images and Furthers Administration's Commitment to Persons with Disabilities

Thursday, October 24, 2002, 11 a.m. - noon

The International Braille and Technology Center for the Blind
National Federation of the Blind Headquarters
1800 Johnson St., Baltimore, Md.

For directions, go to http://www.nfb.org/directions.htm

Deputy Commerce Secretary Sam Bodman and National Federation of the Blind (NFB) President Marc Maurer will announce that Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the NFB will collaborate on the first "field testing" of a prototype device for the blind and visually impaired to "feel" electronic images and graphics. The announcement is being made in conjunction with National Disability Awareness Month and NFB's National Meet the Blind Month and furthers the President's New Freedom Initiative in developing assistive technologies for persons with disabilities.

The NIST tactile visual display system will be demonstrated for the media by John Roberts, the leader of the NIST research team developing the technology, and Curtis Chong, director of technology for the NFB, who is blind. A short question-and-answer period will follow the demonstration. Reporters, photographers and video crews then will be able to try out/photograph the visual display system firsthand.

During the past few years, NIST has pioneered two low-cost technologies to translate electronic data for use by the blind and visually impaired. The first device, known as the NIST Braille reader, allows the blind to use e-books, review e-mail, browse the Web and access other text-based applications.

The current version of the reader incorporates several design improvements based on feedback from NFB members who "field tested" the original design.

The technology to be introduced on Oct. 24 is a device that brings electronic images to the blind and visually impaired in the same way that Braille makes words readable. The prototype conveys scanned illustrations, map outlines or other graphical images to the fingertips, and can translate images displayed on Internet Web pages or in electronic books.

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date created: 10/21/02
contact: inquiries@nist.gov