Technology gives disabled new abilities

Seeing without sight

When Malaysian Rico Chan was pursuing a master's degree in visual arts at Hong Kong Polytechnic University 16 years ago, he saw a photography exhibition where all the photos on display were taken by blind people. The photos were so stunning that they made him realize "sight is not the only way to see the world, and that is why humans have five senses".

The exhibition inspired Chan to conduct research into the facilities available to assist the visually impaired. He was disappointed to discover that while, for most people, more than 80 percent of information is transmitted visually, facilities to help visually-impaired people receive visual information are scarce.

He noted that while most art galleries or museums do have barrier-free access for visually-impaired people, leading them to the information desks or restrooms, they don't provide the tools to enable them to appreciate and understand the exhibits inside the galleries, exhibition halls or showrooms.

To provide the visually impaired with facilities to "see" the world, Chan founded Beyond Vision Projects - a social enterprise that aims to improve the quality of life for those who are visually defective, by offering them access to visual information. The organization came into being in 2016 and was developed into an NGO, Beyond Vision International, last year.

It took Chan about six years to develop and improve on the Tactile-Audio Interaction System - a multisensory interactive platform for the visually impaired to "see" images through the synchronization of touch and sound. The system can transform flat images into uneven, three-dimensional and tactile pictures, where the shapes and frameworks of the images' contents are highlighted. Visually-impaired people can thus get the main messages expressed in the images by touching them.

Chan also added audio to the system to explain the uneven paintings. Buttons are installed at the bottom of each painting. When visually-impaired people press the button, they can hear a pre-recorded, thorough explanation of the images, including details of the subject, the author and the date and time the message was recorded. They can "see" the painting by touching it and listening to the recorded message at the same time.

The Tactile Audio Interaction System can be used in various scenarios. It can turn artworks in museums into versions that can be enjoyed by the blind, or used to make teaching materials in special schools touchable. The technology can also be applied in daily life, turning images, such as brochures, posters and maps, into touchable versions.

Using the system, Chan has held 45 art exhibitions so far, drawing more than 31,800 visitors, and has organized 70 workshops with more than 1,000 participants and featuring 850 tactile paintings and textbooks.

"I'm doing all these things not only to solve some practical problems, but also to make people with disabilities feel they are part of us. We don't forget them. We care about them. We want them to be included. This is the greatest meaning and real value of technological progress," says Chan.

When new technology is created, it brings new possibilities to mankind. For the disabled, it's even more deeply felt. Cheung and others like him have come a long way, and are grateful for the progress they have made in their lives.