Abstract
Sensory Aids Foundation of Palo Alto, California, has funded development of a number of microprocessor-based or computer-related sensory aids to enable blind and partially sighted persons to enter innovative areas of employment previously inaccessible to them. Three of these devices are discussed in this paper: the prototype TSPS (Traffic Service Position System) console for blind telephone operators; an Optacon Tracking Guide for CRT displays; and a Digital Indexing System for cassette audio recorders. In addition, three other microprocessor-based products recently acquired by Sensory Aids Foundation for placement with blind or partially sighted clients are briefly described: the Speech Annunciator for digital laboratory instruments; the Large Print Video Terminal; and the TIM-II (Talking Information Management System). A new grant received from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, the Projects With Industry Section, has allowed expansion of services to develop computer-related jobs for blind, deaf, and orthopedically disabled persons.
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References
Projects With Industry,Quarterly Report, No. 1, January 1980.
Phillips, S. H., Development of prototype equipment to enable the blind to be telephone operators.Proceedings. Second West Coast Computer Faire, San Jose, March 1978.
Russell, Y. S., and Phillips, S. H., Optacon tracking guide for blind persons reading information on CRT screens.Proceedings, Third West Coast Computer Faire. Los Angeles, November 1978.
Russell, Y. S., and Phillips, S. H., Digital indexing system for cassette audio tape recorder.Proceedings. Third West Coast Computer Faire, Los Angeles, November 1978.
Sensory Aids Foundation Report, Vol. II, No. 2, May 1979.
Sensory Aids For Employment of Blind and Visually Impaired Persons: A Resource Guide (compiled by Sensory Aids Foundation), American Foundation for the Blind, New York, 1978.
Russell, Y. S., and Phillips, S. H., Applications of TIM-II for employment of blind people.Proceedings, Fourth West Coast Computer Faire, San Francisco, May 1979.
Phillips, S. H., and Russell, Y. S., Employment applications of computer related sensory aids for blind and partially sighted persons.Proceedings. Fourth West Coast Computer Faire. San Francisco, May 1979.
Additional information
Initial job development for blind and partially sighted people was funded under an Innovation and Expansion grant from the State of California Department of Rehabilitation. New computer-related job development for blind, deaf, and orthopedically disabled persons has been funded under grant number 79072802; Projects With Industry, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Department of Health, Education and Welfare. An earlier version of this paper was published inProceedings of the 13th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, Vol. 3, 1980, by Western Periodicals Co., North Hollywood, Calif.
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Phillips, S.H., Russell, Y.S. Development of prototype equipment for innovative employment of blind and partially sighted persons. J Med Syst 4, 215–226 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02222464
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02222464