[Promotion-technology] Fw: article: An Inspiring Dream For the Blind

[Robert Jaquiss]

Hello Colleagues:

     I thought the following might be of interest. Follow the link below to 
the story and at the end a link to a video.

Regards,

Robert

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Karl Martin Adam" <kmaent at worldnet.att.net>
To: <undisclosed-recipients:>
Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 1:56 PM
Subject: article: An Inspiring Dream For the Blind


>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
>
> An Inspiring Dream For the Blind
> Posted: Monday, October 06, 2008 10:29 AM by Sarika Dani From Josh
> Weiner,
> TODAY producer
>
> Imagine losing your vision - and finding a way to ski, sail, bike and
> continue all your passions. It sounds impossible, right? Not if you're
> Ed
> Gallagher. I met Ed recently for our TODAY story. Inspiring is the word
> sums
> up this his outlook on life.
>
> Ed grew up near a Michigan lake, and he jokes that he "sailed" out of
> his
> mother's womb. A building contractor by profession, Ed always embraced
> the
> outdoors his entire life. Sailing became an integral part of his
> routine.
> But in his late 40s, Ed was diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease.
> His
> vision began to fade slowly over several years, and he feared his
> sailing
> days were over. But Ed, 57, who now lives in San Francisco, came across
> a
> group called BAADS - The Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors. The
> club
> is a comprised of folks who have all types of disabilities, but with the
> help of one another and many able-bodied volunteers, organized regular
> sailing ventures in the beautiful bay water.
>
> Then Ed came up with an amazing idea he calls "Genoa Connections." Named
> after his beloved guide dog, it's a seemingly simple, yet brilliantly
> clever
> remote guidance system. Ed mounts a web-camera to a strap around his
> forehead, and the camera wirelessly transmits the live video over the
> Internet using free software called Skype. Ed's friends take turns
> acting as
> his guide. Both wear microphones and earpieces, and talk back and forth
> as
> the guide tells Ed what he's "seeing." He's testing the barriers, and
> regularly uses it to sail, but also tries shopping, cross country skiing
> and
> even biking in Golden Gate park.
>
> Ed has started an organization where he hopes to refine and mass-produce
> his
> system, so other blind people all around the world can use it too.
> Certainly
> it's not going to replace the time-tested travel tools like a white cane
> or
> guide dog (which already enable the blind to get around independently).
> But
> Ed believes it can greatly augment the lives of the blind and vision
> impaired through advancing technology.
>
> His dream doesn't end there. Ideally, Ed says, homebound individuals,
> through a government agency, like the Department of Rehabilitation,
> would
> serve as the guides. That way it's a win-win. And according to Ed, the
> experience is just as rewarding for the guide as for the blind person.
> When
> our correspondent, Jenna Wolfe, told Ed he seems like someone who always
> see
> the glass-half-full, he paused. Then, grinning,  he responded, "that's
> what
> my mother always said!" Watch video here.
> http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/27047025
>
>
>
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>