Unisa online - Limpopo installs assistive devices for the visually impaired

During the training session on the new assistive devices, from left (front): Mr D Moodley; Ms Cathy Lekganyane, Acting Library Head; Mr Jerry Mothiba (seated); (back) Mr E Magoro; Mr A Maruma and Mr B Phooko

There was a lot of excitement in the Polokwane Library when two “very smart” assistive devices for visually impaired students were installed.

One of the devices is the “Eye Pal solo reader”. The reader scans a page of text from a book and then reads the text back in audio format. The reader also displays the text magnified to the desired size on screen.  All this is done using special equipment and software. The second machine called “Smart Synergy Desktop” allows magnification of text to the desired size onto a 19-inch flat screen.

Staff members from the Polokwane Library were trained in the operation of these devices by Mr D Moodley from the ARCSWiD Office.

Ms Cathy Lekganyane, Acting Head of the Library, could not hide her excitement. “This is an exciting development for us because from now on we will be able to effectively serve students with various degrees of visual impairments,” she said.