Tablet computers used as Braille keyboards

Researchers at New Mexico University have developed a system that uses tablet computers, like the Apple iPad, as Braille keyboards.

Touchscreen tablets can present a problem for blind and visually impaired people when the normal on-screen keyboards are not tactile and can’t be seen. 

Tablets like the iPaad use speech software that feed back vocally what is under the users finger, meaning that you have to slide your finger around the screen until you find the right key.  Rather than the users fingers having to find the keys the research group has developed a system where the device works out where the users fingers are.  The combination of fingers determines the letter typed, in the same way a Braille typewriter would.

Though not yet commercially available the group hope to release the system which could be portable and help speed up typing, note taking and numerous other applications.

Link:
Read the BBC News story here.

Elderly who take a daily Aspirin could be twice as likely to develop age related sight loss

A European study has found that pensioners who take an Aspirin  everyday increase the risk of developing late stage age related Macular Degeneration (MD).  People who took the painkiller were shown to be twice as likely to suffer from MD as those who didn’t.  MD is the leading form of vision loss for the over 60’s

Many over 65’s with, or at risk of, heart disease take Asprin as an anti-coagulant to thin the blood but research by Dr Paulus de Jong at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience and Academic Medical Centre suggests that it could be unwise to recommend taking Aspirin for people showing signs of the eye condition.

The study doesn’t show why the drug exacerbates the eye condition, which examined the lifestyles of nearly 4,700 patients. It showed that roughly 2 out of every 100 people who didn’t take Aspirin developed wet form MD, the more severe form of the eye condition, whilst the figures jumped to about 4 per 100 with the patients who took the drug everyday.

It’s not thought that the drug causes MD, as it does not seem to effect early stage MD.  It seems only wet, not the more common dry form MD, is affected.

However, Dr Jong told the Reuters news agency “For people with cardiovascular disease who take aspirin to prevent the condition from worsening, the benefits of the drug outweigh the risks to visual health… A healthy eye with full visual capacities is of no use in a dead body.”

Link:
Reuters: “Daily asprin tied to risk of vision loss”

Stem cell research could lead to the reversal of sight loss

It was announced last week that the first ever European trails using embryonic stem cells has been approved by regulators.  Moorfields Eye Hospital in London will start the trails on 12 patients with  Stargardts Disease, a form of macular degeneration, which causes sight loss at an early age.

• Read a previous Vision Web Sight post on the story by clicking here.

The initial trails will take the form of injecting tiny amounts of retinal stem cells into the eye, initially to assess the safety of the procedure.  If this is successful it is hoped that higher doses will help regenerate the damaged retina and restore eyesight, effectively “curing” the disease.

In America, trails in safety of stem cell therapy for people with spinal injuries is already taking place.  Bone marrow transplants using stem cells and the growing of a new windpipe from the patient’s own stem cells have been successful in recent years.

Macular Degeneration (MD) is one of the biggest causes of sight loss (47% in the UK).  It’s thought that if everyone lived long enough, everyone would eventually develop some form of MD and become blind.  Stem cells can regenerate all forms of human tissue, so it is hoped that this treatment could help other forms of degenerative sight loss.

There is some controversy over the use of stem cells in medicine.  It is opposed by Pro-Life groups because the embryo is destroyed when the cells are harvested.

Links:

• BBC News: UK medics lead Europe’s first embryonic stem cell trial
• Guardian online: First trial of embryonic stem cell treatment in Europe gets green light

Best of British - Channel 4 documentary follows 2012 Paralympics hopefuls

Tonight on Channel 4 a new three part documentary starts. "Best of British" follows hopefuls for the London 2012 Paralympics GB team.  The first programme follows three blind footballers, fighting to make the GB squad.

"The first film in the series follows Dave Clarke, Robin Wiliams and Owen Bainbridge from the British Blind Football squad.
As well as following the highs and lows of team selection and the squad's performance, the film also meets the players' families.
What's it like for the players to have sighted family members and children, and what is it like for those families to have blind sons, brothers and fathers?"

Quote from the Channel 4 web site

Owen Bainbridge is a good friend of mine and was one of my lodge mates during my time at the Royal National College for the Blind.  As the camera crew followed him in his daily life, they also interviewed me.  So you might alsao see me on the programme.  Fame at last!