[The computer work place for severely visually handicapped and blind patients]

Access to the world of computers, which today are penetrating all areas of life, is to a far-reaching extent impossible for blind or visually impaired persons, on account of the usually visual information output of the systems. Developed at the Electromechanical Design Department of Duisburg University, the computerized workplace described features spoken output of everything that normally would appear on the display screen, i.e. the visual mode has been replaced fully by spoken communication. Using this learning and teaching aid in schools, vocational training facilities, at the workplace, or at home, the blind person is enabled to learn how to programme, to develop programmes, or to work with off-the-shelf software.