Milestones in the Development of Technology for
People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired

Throughout the 20th century assistive technology services and devices have been developed to enable people who are blind or visually impaired to overcome the print barrier. Decades before the introduction of computers, innovative applications of other technology have helped people who are blind or visually impaired to read independently.

1930's. Initial efforts to cross the print barrier came in the form of the Talking Book program coordinated by the Library of Congress National Library Service. Classic and contemporary fiction and non-fiction works were recorded and distributed on records which would play on a specially designed turntable. There were even some crank-up talking book machines for people who didn't have electricity.

1950's. Other needs were soon identified, and Recording for the Blind stepped in as a major resource for educational materials. Readers recorded text books for distribution to college and high school students.

1960's. Toward the end of this decade, a college professor in California decided to tackle his blind daughter's reading problems by developing a device which read print and transmitted a tactile sensation representing the shape of the letter or number. This device, introduced in 1969, was called the Optacon, the Optical to Tactile Converter.

1970's. In the early 1970's, devices called closed circuit television systems (CCTV's) were marketed. These systems utilized black and white TV cameras to scan an image (a book, a newspaper, a diagram, a map), and then displayed an enlarged image on a television monitor. A few years later, Raymond Kurzweil developed a method to apply "character recognition" technology to a need he identified--the need for access to print materials which could not be recorded efficiently in a timely manner. In the late 1970's, he introduced a prototype reading machine (with a 70% accuracy rate and a scratchy, sin-songy electronic voice) which sold for nearly $50,000.

1980's. The Apple personal computer was soon accompanied by an Echo speech synthesizer for classroom use. Another development teamed the Apple with the Cranmer Modified Perkins Brailler to convert text files into braille print-outs. Refreshable braille (sometimes called "paperless" braille) displays soon followed. TeleSensory Systems Inc. developed the VersaBraille, a machine which enabled braille users to create computer files in braille, read the text, and later print to a standard inkprint printer. Blazie Engineering introduced the Braille 'n Speak, a small notetaker offering braille input and speech output. Throughout the 1980's, speech synthesizers and screen review software products were paired together to give an electronic voice to the computer monitor, and control of the text to be spoken to the blind computer user. Other software was designed to increase the size of the print on the computer screen for use by people with low vision.

1990's. This decade has been characterized by the challenges of the Windows and other "graphical user interface" (gui) operating systems to the effective use of the computer by people who are blind or visually impaired. Color CCTV systems are available. Currently marketed reading machines or scanners are often independent, stand alone systems. Computer disks and CD ROM products are available which contain vast amounts of information to be read aloud on the individual's personal computer. Telecommunication (popularized by the Internet) offers opportunities to capture books, copy them to a hard drive, and read them with a computer access device.

As technology has advanced, the costs have tumbled to make adaptive equipment far more affordable than at any other time in this century. New applications for technology will likely confront mobility barriers to independence for people who are blind or visually impaired. As Raymond Kurzweil recently commented, "Wouldn't it be fun to walk down the street and have the buildings talk to you?!"

For more information, contact Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 16625 Grand River Avenue, Detroit, MI 48227, 313-272- 3900.