IEE Control & Automation Division: Chairman´s address. Some developments in computer-aided information services for the blind

The paper reviews the needs of the blind community for printed material, and surveys current developments in the applications of automation to increase the availability of Braille. The problems of automatic translation of English text to Braille are considered. Some possible systems for giving a greatly improved access to Braille are surveyed, and an automated system for map and diagram production is reviewed. The future provision of information services for the blind, using special systems or existing systems with special terminals, is discussed. The technical problems are not trivial, but collaborative ventures, with international cooperation, could offer solutions in a relatively short time scale.