Computers Today, November 1-15, 1999, Tech Trends; The Feel of Knowledge

A team comprising of a scientist and two professors in Calcutta has developed a computerised Braille transcription system. Remarkably, it makes Braille printing a matter of minutes, instead of days.

Even high-tech aficionados admit that there are a few things a computer can't be made to do. But some like the team of Calcutta-based scientists-cum-academicians-Rina Das, Pradip K. Das and Atal Chowdhury-believed that computers could do some of the things considered impossible.

Way back in 1992-93, this team dreamt it could make the blind use computers as well. It went about achieving its aim by merchandising the system of Braille printing with the help of computers. Surprisingly, while normal printing technology has advanced by leaps and bounds in this country, for the blind, it is still the Dark Ages. The Braille processes, beginning from conversion of normal text to everything up to the feed for printing, are done manually. More importantly, a sighted person requiring the knowledge of conversion of normal text to Braille (the text language of the sightless) is essential for this type of printing process.

The Brailler Basic
How the computer-aided Braille printer works

The modus operandi of the Braille transcription printing machine is simple. At the heart of the concept is an ordinary personal computer that converts text into Braille with the help of specially developed software. Any sighted person can enter text with the help of a normal keyboard and the computer forwards the transcripted text to a Braille printing device. This is connected to the computer via a RS 232C link and a specially designed microprocessor board, collectively known as the interface. The printing device in this case is an electrically operated Brailler that is made by Perkins of USA. As of now, the Brailler is imported in knocked-down condition and then modified to incorporate some mechanical parts and the interface.

After the software is activated, it asks for specifications like the maximum number of cells that the Brailler printer can accommodate and number of lines per page. As one keys in normal text in any of the available vernacular or English languages, the software automatically converts the input to Braille codes and displays them on the screen as it would appear on the paper. The software works much like a word processor program. It goes about indicating page ends, and shifts to a fresh page as one ends, and the likes.

On completion of the input, the Braille information is sent to a controller card that is installed within the computer, which forwards the same to the interface in the printer and that, in turn, activates the printer to produce raised dots on the paper. The visually impaired person feels these impressions to read.

The RS232C serial link has a built-in check against improper use and a foolproof mechanism for actuating the Braille printer.

The team, comprising of two computer science professors in Jadavpur University, Calcutta, and a scientist (Mrs Das) in S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Science, soon worked out a project with the help of Ramakrishna Mission Blind Boy's Academy. Not many know that the academy houses the only press for the sightless in the East. Almost after four years of hard work, research and development, this project, funded jointly by the Department of Electronics and Jadavpur University, finally took shape in form of a software and a basic computerised gadget that could at least set free a few steps from manual processing.

According to Pradip Das, the invention enables an operator of a computer to key in text on a regular keyboard. Following this, a special software package converts that text into equivalent Braille form. The trio has also developed interfaces (hardware) which enable the computer to directly feed Braille inputs to Braille printers for a hard copy outputs.

But what Professor Das and his teammates built were laboratory prototypes. Das admits that "the prototypes were not suitable for large scale printing or for widespread use." The responsibility to turn that invention into a commercial success was taken up by Webel Mediatronics Ltd (WML), a part of Webel (the West Bengal government's undertaking for the development of the electronics industry in the state), in conjunction with another government organisation, the Department of Science and Technology Research.

"Besides making the invention commercially viable, an equally important mission was also to make it affordable," says S.N. Goswami the CEO of Webel. And after a fair amount of refinement on the original concept, WML is now ready with a machine that can be introduced in the market. A. Bandyopadhyay, general manager, Webel, says, "We would be sending the final version of the machine to the National Institute of Visually Handicapped in Dehra Dun (the central approving authority) in November for the endurance and reliability tests, and we hope that by the month-end we would be in a position to take orders." He adds that the machine, which WML calls Computerised Braille Transcription System, would be priced at under Rs 1.5 lakh, "far lower than the price of the imported machine that can cost anything between Rs 20 lakh to Rs 40 lakh."

Friendly to Users

Can be operated without previous knowledge of Braille.

Support several languages under Bharati Braille System.

Automated PC controlled system requiring minimum manual operation.

Provides editing, storage, memory and networking facilities.

Easy to operate besides being virtually maintenance free.

Few are aware of this invention yet, but those who have been involved with this concept closely, including those who have refined it in WML, are unanimous that the invention of the trio is revolutionary. "The biggest benefit would be a much faster turnout of publications for the blind," says Prof Das. According to him, published materials in Braille take as much as four years to reach the sightless under the present infrastructure available in India, which incidentally has the dubious distinction of being a country with largest visually handicapped population in the world. Das muses, "That day is not far off when institutions for the blind can even convert daily newspapers into a Braille newspaper in less than an hour."

Neither the team nor WML is content with their current achievements. Das says, "So far the invention involves only text printing, but we are we are working on a project that will enable the machine to print graphics including irregular ones like maps and physical boundaries." Also, development of optical character recognition software is also in progress that will make conversion of scanned documents to Braille possible. Das informs that the software parts of these projects have been developed but the hardware is pending until the machine developed by WML is readily available to the mass. "There is no point in going ahead with the another type of hardware unless mass production for the earlier version commences," he says.

WML, on its part, is working on a yet another DOE-funded project that will establish a network system to connect all the blind institutions in a region, say, a state. This network will include a new tactile device, which can continuously convert normal text into Braille on a scrolling medium so that a sightless person can read and take a printout only when necessary. In future, the company plans to add machines that will convert Braille to text, data-entry machines with sound out and large print displays.

According to Prof Das and Bandyopadhyay, the response has been "extremely encouraging". "We have received a deluge of inquiries from blind schools and NGOs around the country and moreover, a few South East Asian countries have also expressed their interests in our machine." WML estimates that within the first year of introduction, the company would be able to book orders for at least a 100 such systems. According to S. Chatterjee, WML's marketing executive. "We aim to include all the 500 odd blind schools in the country as our clients," he adds. The scientists, on their part, are continuing with the good work in the hope to add more brightness in the world of the sightless.

More Light, Please
The device that the scientists developed

The first machine developed by the trio was an electro-pneumatic machine fitted with a mechanical Brailler. Pneumatic valves released air and robotic fingers were used to key in text for Braille output. Later, this system was modified on a portable electrically controlled Braille machine, called the Parkins Brailler, which used electro-magnets instead of pneumatic valves.

The initial software developed by the team could only translate English. At present, it is available for six Indian languages- Hindi, Assamese, Oriya, Bengali, Manipuri and Marathi. The team is also planning to introduce software for a few South Indian languages soon.

Modifications that WML carried out: Instead of the coil actuation technology used in the laboratory prototype, WML used micro-motors. The company says, use of micromotors has reduced the need for higher voltage power and has made the printer compact, easy-to-handle and simple. Another plus: these motors have also made the printer about twice as fast as the original version.

The prototype machine developed by the trio had a manual paper feeding system, which was replaced by WML with an automated feed. The machine also possesses a modified circuitry, which enables the inclusion of the hardware interface within the printer. WML claims that this circuitry makes the machine suitable for operation in noisy electrical environment.