UAE University offers software to help visually impaired users

New software for the visually impaired is now available at the UAE University's (UAEU) library. IBSAR (Vision) software - an Arabic/English text-to-speech software is an integrated reading and writing solution for the blind and visually-impaired people - helps visually-impaired users to easily read Arabic and English paper and electronic documents, check e-mail, browse the Internet, write documents, and save and print in Braille. There is also a tutorial that teaches typing skills and shortcuts at various levels, an Arabic/English dictionary and translation tool, and Braille and MP3 converters. It also has Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology that reads "scanned” printed documents and images, recognises them and then translates the figures and characters into an electronic file. The electronic documents are editable and searchable. "Through this service, the Libraries Deanship continues to support the Disability Support Services Centre at UAEU in its aim to address the requirements of students with special needs, and to ensure they have access to educational opportunities equal to their fellow students ,” Professor Hassan Al Naboodah, dean of the UAEU Libraries, said. Source: Khaleej Times