The advances in computer technologies in recent years have been one of the most effective catalysts for blind people to be integrated into the mainstream society in the pursuit of their academic and professional career. Various computer software and hardware such as screen readers, braille translation software, electronic notetakers have been developed to facilitate the adaptation of blind students and professionals to their working environment. However, these technologies typically cost a considerable amount of money, so a large portion of blind people in developing countries who cannot afford these are not likely to take benefit from them. In this talk, we discuss some important access technologies which are essential for blind people to use computers, to access different kinds of information, and perform basic tasks in their personal and professional life. We will examine what problems the technology aims at solving, what are the state-of-the-art software/hardware, and low-cost alternatives if any.

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