[Art_beyond_sight_educators] STEM, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nanotechnology, artist, London, books

[Lisa Yayla]

Blind student presents 3-D tactile images to national microscopy conference
Gonzales is blind. Yet she is pursuing a STEM (science, technology, 
engineering and math) degree that requires an understanding of many 
detailed, microscopic biological elements -- something she finds 
fascinating and exciting. "When I applied to Arizona State University, I 
chose molecular biosciences and biotechnology because of my love of 
biology," said Gonzales. "I was always very interested in science. From 
a high school biotechnology course, I found that although I loved 
biology, it was the finer details, such as the molecular processes 
involved, that I was most interested in." Last spring, she signed up for 
the 400-level course Cell Biotechnology, which teaches students how to 
experiment with various types of cell cultures and requires a large 
amount of work with microscopes.

Read more at: 
http://phys.org/news/2012-08-student-d-tactile-images-national.html#jCp

http://phys.org/news/2012-08-student-d-tactile-images-national.html

Carmela Kolman
http://www.carmelakolman.com/


Where would you take a blind person in London?
There is a great deal to experience in London if you are blind or 
partially sighted. Amy Oliver provides a guide to some of the most 
suitable attractions.
The National Portrait Gallery <http://www.npg.org.uk/> for example, has 
the largest number of 'tactile' images in a UK art gallery. More than 
130, from each of the eight galleries, feature in a booklet with 
descriptions. Gallery staff are also trained to give audio tours. ...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/in-the-know/london-cultural-attractions/9417377/attractions-for-blind-partially-sighted.html


*JUDY Dawes illustrates books for children who just cannot keep their 
hands off them.*

The pages spring to life under the touch of blind and visually impaired 
youngsters who are eager to read.

With a group of volunteers, Ms Dawes sews and glues items to coloured 
cardboard, to which braille and text are added.

For her work making tactile books for Can:Do 4Kids clients, she has been 
nominated for a Pride of Australia medal in the Community Spirit category.

The books help children visualise what they are unable to see.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/a-touching-gesture-for-the-blind/story-e6frea6u-1226415030810

First Tactile Picture Books for Children in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The National Library for Blind and Visually Impaired, presented the 
first children's tactile picture books in Bosnia and Herzegovina: 
"Pinocchio" and "Pippi Longstocking." The project, worth 4,00KM (cca. 
$3,000) marked the 40 year anniversary of the Library.

Tactile books are books that are modified to enable blind and visually 
impaired children to comprehend the story. Picture books of "Pinocchio" 
and "Pippi Longstocking" were made-over into two-dimensional products by 
using different indentations to make images pop-up and become tangible 
for the kids. The story itself was translated into Braille and then 
posted over the original text in clear, see-through stickers as to 
preserve the original design of the picture books.
http://www.openequalfree.org/first-tactile-picture-books-for-children-in-bosnia-and-herzegovina/12632


Nanotechnology Braille display makes Web accessible to the blind

In their latest work, the interdisciplinary research group from the 
University of Tokyo, Hiroshima University, Max Planck Institute for 
Solid State Research, AIST, and RIKEN, have fabricated a Braille sheet 
display operating at 4 V by integrating organic TFT drivers, organic 
static random-access memory (SRAM), and carbon nanotube-based actuators.
http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=24618.php<http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=24618.php#ixzz2CrfGgprZ>