FingerReader device reads aloud to the blind in real time

MIT's developing FingerReader device helps people with vision impairment by reading  with the swipe of a finger

Published July 08, 2014

Associated Press

• 
  In this Thursday, June 26, 2014 photos, a model wears a FingerReader ring at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab in Cambridge, Mass. Researchers designed and developed the instrument, which enables people with visual disabilities to read text printed on paper or electronic devices. (AP Photo Stephan Savoia) (The Associated Press)

World Sight Day 10 October 2013

 by Dr Rania Chiourea

World Sight Day is celebrated annually on the second Thursday of the month of October, in a bid to focus global attention on blindness, vision impairment and rehabilitation of visually impaired people.  This year falls on 10 October 2013. The theme for World Sight Day 2013 is: "Universal Eye Health".

‘World Sight Day’ as the name suggests, is a day that is dedicated to:

• Awareness is created about blindness and vision impairment issues which are considered to be international public health concerns.
• To motivate health ministers and other government officials to understand the problems and take keen interest in listing viable solutions and allocating resources to fight for the cause.
• To raise awareness and educate people about issues related to vision impairment, the importance of a 2020 vision, the corrective steps to be taken in order to restore partially lost sight etc.

Blind students can be mobilized in time for school work and are able to perform at the level of their sighted peers

by Rania Chiourea, PhD

Teacher for the Blind

School Counselor/Inspector

The findings of a study change the regard for the blind, for the nature of their difficulties and for their learning possibilities. This study demonstrates that failure during basic learning at school results mainly from inadequate teaching methods, rather than the deficits of blind. It also shows that through appropriate teaching most blind students can be mobilized in time for school work and are able to perform at the level of their sighted peer.  

Vision problems: Causes, Care, Prevention

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Alternative Names

Vision impairment; Impaired vision; Blurred vision

 There are many types of eye problems and vision disturbances, such as:

• Halos
• Blurred vision (the loss of sharpness of vision and the inability to see fine details)
• Blind spots or scotomas (dark "holes" in the vision in which nothing can be seen)
• Vision loss and blindness are the most severe vision problems.