Annie device to revolutionise Braille learning for visually impaired students
About 40 students of Government Braille School in Jamalpur will have a different experience once they return after the winter break as a Braille learning device, Annie, is being installed at their school. The device will help these students become self-dependent as far as studying is concerned.
Principal Paramjit Kaur said they had received a notification from the district administration regarding the matter. She said they were hopeful the device would help students, especially when there was staff crunch at the school.
Talking to The Tribune, Paramjit, who herself lost her eyesight during the Covid-19 pandemic said that the school suffered due to the absence of sufficient staff members. “Presently, we are three people, running the show. Though we are managing everything by with the help of volunteers and two staff members from the diploma college, we require at least two-three more teachers. We urge the Deputy Commissioner (DC) to do the needful,” she added.
DC Jitendra Jorwal, however, said that it was after analysing the severe staff crunch at the school that Annie was being installed there. “We aims to promote inclusive education and empower visually impaired students in Ludhiana by providing them access to innovative solutions through Annie, the world’s first Braille literacy device developed by Thinker Bell Labs,” said the DC, adding that project Annie aimed to revolutionise Braille literacy and skill development among visually impaired students in Ludhiana. With a focus on enhancing accessibility and independence, the project will deploy Annie devices across selected schools and institutions, catering to the visually impaired. These devices are designed to make Braille learning engaging, self-paced, and interactive.
The interactive learning approach of the Annie device combines audio, visual, and tactile feedback, making the process of learning Braille both easy and enjoyable. It is designed to be self-paced, allowing students to progress at their own speed with minimal instructor supervision. Teachers and administrators can track students’ progress in real time through an integrated dashboard, ensuring a thorough understanding of each student’s development. The device also offers multi-language support, making it accessible to students from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Additionally, the ‘gamification’ aspect of the device adds an element of fun, boosting student motivation to keep learning. Each Annie device costs around Rs 95,000, but if it proves successful, the district administration, with assistance from the Red Cross, plans to bring 10 more such devices into action, further expanding the reach of this innovative tool.
The expected outcomes from the device include an enhanced Braille literacy among visually impaired students, improved confidence and independence in learning and increased teacher efficiency in supporting visually impaired students.
