New Printer / Embosser enhances sharing of knowledge among blind users and sighted peers

Conventional embossers produce raised dots in Braille making it convenient for blind users to read, but parents, schoolmates and work colleagues of blind users can't share such materials. A gap was in place which limited knowledge sharing necessary for advancement in education and career.

"The new trend in adaptive technology is to utilize standard IT equipment used by sighted users so it can be used by blind users too. The Emprint can be used by sighted users to print ink based documents so blind and sighted colleagues may share such a resource in schools or even the work place. With the Emprint we come even closer to narrowing the gap," said Auda Hazeem Nattiq's CEO.

The Emprint™ Haptic Braille printer combines the two worlds of printing producing embossed information along with text information on the same page. Parents may now supervise their blind children and contribute to their learning experience. The new way of presenting information is even useful for all other users beside blind people.

Studies in neurophysiology tell us that physical experience creates especially strong neural pathways in the brain. Beyond vision alone, using the haptic (touch) sensory modality engages the two hemispheres of the brain simultaneously - assuring we retain information in long-term memory.

Nattiq started receiving orders for the Emprint Haptic Braille Printer in the beginning of the forth quarter. Installations will include the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Nattiq worked with Viewplus Technologies, the manufacturer of the Emprint, in the United States to localize Braille embossing of the Emprint into Arabic.

Blind Arabs now enjoy reading Arabic Braille documents with the Emprint. Nattiq conducts customized demonstrations to all interested entities in its Sharjah office in the UAE. Several organizations are setting budgets to purchase the Emprint in the next fiscal year.