Technology opens up new prospects for the blind

Swiss President Pascal Couchepin (centre) tries out a tactile map for the blind developed by Geneva engineering students Keystone

Tactile street maps, a computer mouse to learn Braille and a mobile phone that reads written text are a few of the latest innovations for the blind on show in Geneva.

The exhibition of new technology for the blind and visually impaired is being held this week at the General Assembly of the World Blind Union, opened on Monday by Swiss President Pascal Couchepin.

Around 500 national association delegates from 121 countries are attending the conference, which takes place every four years and runs until Saturday.

This year’s assembly focuses on the social integration of the blind and visually impaired, who number around 161 million worldwide, of whom 100,000 live in Switzerland.

The congress provides an ideal opportunity for participants to take part in debates, exchange experiences and find out more about some of the latest technological advances.

In all, over 50 exhibitors are showcasing new technologies, such as Mouskie, a computer mouse that promotes the fast learning of Braille, or mobile reading products, developed by US firm Knfb Reading Technologies.

The software, which runs on a Nokia N82 phone, allows the user to take a photo of a text and then listen to the contents read aloud while the words are simultaneously highlighted on screen.

“This is a huge step forward for me, allowing me to read and decipher text wherever I am,” said Christina Fasser, president of Retina Suisse.

Street maps

Tactile street maps for the blind were also a big hit, tested by the Swiss president.

“These thermo-embossed street maps for blind people are put together on the basis of geographical information,” IT engineer Flavien Zaugg from Geneva told swissinfo.

The maps can be printed in a special tactile format and consulted either directly, in particular as a teaching support, or interactively when loaded onto on tactile computer tablets. Voice-activated software gives information on the names of streets, buildings, crossroads and points of interest.

“Often blind people know small parts of their local district; this map allows them to join the different elements together,” explained instructor Carmela Puopolo from the Geneva Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

The project, which has so far only been tested in Geneva, is due to be extended to Neuchâtel, and, if funding is available, to the rest of Switzerland.

Perception problem

“Access to information is the key to social and professional integration,” said Christian Hugentobler, president of the Swiss Federation of the Blind and Visually Impaired.

“Modern technology opens up opportunities for visually impaired people to find and process information that is relevant to them from the wealth available every day.”

But Fasser underlined the differences between Switzerland and other parts of the world.

“Our situation is a very privileged one compared with developing countries,” she noted. “In some African and Asian countries it’s already a problem getting a white cane and a watch is an absolute luxury.”

“We have a very good situation in Switzerland regarding social insurance and access to auxiliary aids. The Swiss population respect blind people, but still believe we are unable to do a lot of things.”

“Blind people in Switzerland still face issues of integration, problems of access to public transport and buildings and work; it’s difficult to get a good job these days,” added Hugentobler.

And in his address the Swiss president noted that a great deal still had to be done to ensure equal opportunities in the workplace for people with sight problems.

New opportunities

In an interview with Le Temps newspaper, Fasser of Retina Suisse explained that certain professions – such as lawyer, physiotherapist or psychotherapist – were possible even for the blind.

“But people without proper training are difficult to employ,” she added. “Manual jobs used to be easily accessible for blind people but they tend to disappear as man is replaced by machine.

New opportunities need to be created with the help of the respective partners: the employers, government and insurers,” she said.

Hugentobler agrees that employers play a crucial role. “We have to be able to inform employers about what is possible for blind people with assisted technologies and find ways they can be integrated,” said Hugentobler.

Another development discussed in Geneva is the application of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which has been signed by 130 countries and ratified by 33.

“Having this convention means that countries have to implement laws ensuring equality for people with disabilities and report back to the Officer of the High Commission for Human Rights,” said Fasser.

Switzerland has not yet ratified the text but is currently evaluating it, explained the Swiss president.

“This will be an important support for our situation,” Hugentobler told swissinfo.

swissinfo, Simon Bradley in Geneva

Visually impaired

The Swiss National Association of and for the Blind estimates that there are around 80,000–100,000 visually impaired people in Switzerland.

The number of people looked after by organisations for the visually impaired is probably between 10,000 and 20,000. Of these around 10% are blind.

A study by the University of St Gallen shows that there are fewer visually impaired people in the under-44 age group and more in the older population. According to internal surveys among the organisations for the visually impaired, 8–10% of all visually impaired people are over 74 years old.

The most common cause of visual impairment is the natural aging process. In the case of so-called age-related macular degeneration, sight declines in the centre of the field of vision, making reading difficult or impossible; however, there is no need to fear total blindness.

Other causes of visual impairment are accidents or illnesses such as diabetes, cataracts and glaucoma, retinal diseases and congenital conditions.