KU sets up lab for visually impaired students to read printed books

: Kurukshetra University has set up an assistive technology lab for visually impaired students to help them study from printed books by reading and listening to the text.

The laboratory was installed in the Jawahar Lal Nehru library located on the university campus.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Som Nath Sachdeva said that with the implementation of this technology, visually impaired students in the university can use the printed books like other students and they can read all kinds of materials from study like books, magazines, newspapers and texts without any difficulty by reading and listening to texts using assistive technologies.

He said the technology can cover speech in Braille – a tactile writing system used by visually impaired people, so students can read at their convenience.

Speaking at the occasion, Librarian Dr. Chetan Sharma said the lab is equipped with many kinds of technological tools: HD smart reader, braille printer or embosser, braille display and talking jaw software. Students have been encouraged to use Braille books in addition to assistive technologies for their academic pursuits, he added. ENDS