This Article is From Apr 03, 2009

Web portal for the visually impaired

New Delhi:
A web portal which allows around 4.4 crore visually challenged people in the country easy access to the Internet was launched in New Delhi on Wednesday. 

Initially launched in English, the portal --www.eyeway.org -- will have various features including 'screen reading', 'screen magnification', facilities otherwise absent in most sites, to help the visually impaired. 

The Hindi version will be out in another six months. "It is the first of its kind single-stop knowledge portal providing information needed to those who are both visually impaired or have low-vision," George Abraham, the CEO of Score Foundation which owns the portal, said during its launch. 

At the first level, it will be informational, inspirational and inclusive. And then it will provide relevant information as per individual requirements, he added. However, users should have the software -- Jaws -- to access the site. 

Also, those who desire to access the Hindi site's should have Safa software. Incidentally, the site is part of the Eyeway information network -- a multimedia package comprising of radio programme, helpdesk, mobile training programme and the site, itself. 

When asked on the site's accessibility for the rural population, Abraham said the NGO had plans of utilising IT hubs in villages set by the IT ministry.

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