Karnataka - Bangalore   

This Dolphin makes a splash

useful: Dignitaries at the launch of the Dolphin Pen at the National Association for the Blind in Bangalore on Saturday.

Bangalore: The Dolphin Pen is a compact, multi-purpose pen drive that will be immensely useful for the visually impaired.

With three important functions — a screen magnifier, a screen-reader and a Braille Output programme — the Dolphin Pen can be carried around and plugged into any computer, serving as a mobile assistant not just for the blind, but also for those with low vision.

Launched at the National Association for the Blind (NAB), Karnataka branch, in Jeevan Bima Nagar on Saturday, this device was developed by Sightsavers International (SSI) along with the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind. The idea behind the Dolphin Pen is to be able to help those living in the poorest communities of the world and provide access to the visually impaired.

Although right now the price of the Dolphin Pen is a little over Rs. 8,000, members of the NAB are hopeful that the cost will come down as the product becomes more popular.

“The Dolphin Pen will also be useful for people with low-vision,” said Sabitra Kundu, Programme Manager, SSI.

With features within screen magnification and screen-reading such as changing the visibility of the font, changing the colours to make the screen clearer and modifications in the reading so that they can be customised to the reader’s need, the Dolphin Pen version 7.05 is a handy lightweight technical innovation.

“We are soon coming up with version 10.0,” added Mr. Kundu.

Disabilities Commissioner Das Suryavamshi said, “The work NAB is doing is a calling, not a job. We have to focus on permeating to the grassroots level and make devices such as this as accessible as possible.”

He awarded certificates to six students graduating from the technical programme at the NAB recognised by the State Council of Vocational Training on the occasion.

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