Multimodal virtual reality versus printed medium in visualization for blind people

In this paper, we describe a study comparing the strengths of a multimodal Virtual Reality (VR) interface against traditional tactile diagrams in conveying information to visually impaired and blind people. The multimodal VR interface consists of a force feedback device (SensAble PHANTOM), synthesized speech and non-speech audio. Potential advantages of the VR technology are well known however its real usability in comparison with the conventional paper-based medium is seldom investigated. We have addressed this issue in our evaluation. The experimental results show benefits from using the multimodal approach in terms of more accurate information about the graphs obtained by users

The Transmission of the \u3cem\u3eSomniale Danielis\u3c/em\u3e, from Latin to Vernacular Italian (Laurenziano Martelli 12 and Riccardiano 859)

The Somniale Danielis is a dream manual widely circulated in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It is structured through dream symbols and their concise explanation. Medieval manuscripts of the Somniale—from the ninth century to the end of the fifteenth century—generally bear the same dreams, but show changes in the structure of their entries. The coherence of its symbology throughout several centuries allows for a linguistic analysis across these dream manuals that situates them in specific cultural contexts. This article focuses on two manuscripts, each containing a Latin and an Italian version of the Somniale, and aims to show how the Italian versions develop, and vary from, the Latin texts, as the vernacular versions simplify the language of their source text in order to create shorter entries

A robust braille recognition system

Braille is the most effective means of written communication between visually-impaired and sighted people. This paper describes a new system that recognizes Braille characters in scanned Braille document pages. Unlike most other approaches, an inexpensive flatbed scanner is used and the system requires minimal interaction with the user. A unique feature of this system is the use of context at different levels (from the pre-processing of the image through to the post-processing of the recognition results) to enhance robustness and, consequently, recognition results. Braille dots composing characters are identified on both single and double-sided documents of average quality with over 99% accuracy, while Braille characters are also correctly recognised in over 99% of documents of average quality (in both single and double-sided documents)

Atlas.txt : Exploring Lingusitic Grounding Techniques for Communicating Spatial Information to Blind Users

Peer reviewedPostprin

Islam in the contemporary world: Western image and Muslim ideology

The issue of Western perceptions of Islam, and concerns about Islamic ideology vis-à-vis the relation of Muslims to the West, constitute topics of ongoing concern both for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. They have come to the fore in a dramatic sense this century with the terrorist attacks in America on September 11, 2001, and the recent bombings in London, together with many events of global significance in between. For the purpose of this seminar I want to do two things. First, I shall undertake a critical review of some key dimensions of Western perceptions of Islam. Second, I shall outline the broad range of ideological options that have arisen in the modern era in order to highlight shifts of focus and emphasis that have occurred over the last century. I shall end with the question of the present moment: where is Islam heading

Art as collaboration: 50 years of Edition Hansjörg Mayer

Extensive interview with artist, graphic designer and publisher Hansjörg Mayer by Eleanor Vonne Brown and Gustavo Grandal Montero, focusing particularly on his seminal work of the 1960s. Associated at an early stage with Max Bense’s Stuttgart Group, he developed his own “typoems” and other forms of experimental visual poetry, often employing complex conceptual methods (e.g. “typoactions”). His published output includes prints, portfolios, books and the broadsheet series ‘Futura’

Materials to Meet Special Needs

published or submitted for publicatio