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Drawing For The Blind

Posted by timothy on from the but-not-the-colorblind dept.

idletask writes: "Hesham Kamel, a student from University of Berkeley who lost his vision 17 years ago due to a surgeon error, imagined and implemented IC2D (Integrated Communication 2 Draw), a program allowing visually impaired people in general to create computer graphics. The interface to the program is a mere telephone keypad, and it uses voice synthesis to communicate with the user. In fact, this program reveals, through its testers, that yes, blind people know how to draw, and they're as good at it as other people. More information on this program can be found here (1) and here (2). Story found on ArsTechnica."

7 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. Cool. by Maverick+TimeSurfer · · Score: 1, Insightful

    That's really neat and all, and it's a good idea, and a lot of people are probably going to try it out, but..... If they're "visually impaired", how are they going to enjoy their own work?

    --
    Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.
    1. Re:Cool. by CProgrammer98 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      didja read the article?

      Kamel is asked often why those without sight would need to draw something they cannot see.

      "There are many people out there who can't understand that blind people have imaginations, just as sighted people do," he said. "For me, it's all about independence."

      --
      And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour Isaiah 3:5
  2. artwork by xpurple · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think this is a wonderfull thing. We could get some very good works that would otherwize not existed.

    Very similar to software that lets blind people use computers for general use.

    It's all about using technology to let everyone have access, and become productive members of society.

    --
    http://www.xpurple.com
  3. The next Rembrandt by p3d0 · · Score: 2, Insightful
    One man blind since birth drew a side view of a car that's as good as anything I could draw!
    Really? This is the best you could draw?
    --
    Patrick Doyle
    I mod down every jackass who puts his moderation policy in his sig. Oh, wait a sec....
  4. Ahh... by SageMadHatter · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A deaf man composed some of the greatest music the world has ever heard. When will a blind man come along that will draw the greatest paintings? Mad Hatter

  5. Positioning the mouse. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    After looking at some of Mr. Kamel's works I realised, according to the counter, that I was the 1st person to visit the page. This is after 47 comments. For shame.

    Now on to my thought, Mr. Kamel is not tone deaf and there is the problem with repositioning the mouse to some point on the canvas. Is there any reason there could not be some sort of tonal feedback from the canvas to indicate where the mouse is positioned? I don't have time to invent it but the technology exists. Some of you folks have time to do it. We're talking sensors the size of a pixel and a modified mouse.

  6. How a blind person can "use" a drawing by texchanchan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Re, If they're "visually impaired", how are they going to enjoy their own work?

    Drawings aren't all just to look at.

    Suppose you're visually impaired or even completely blind. You could use this tool for drawing architectural plans, circuit diagrams, garden layouts, org charts--anything you want.