VIEW International Foundation Projects


VIEW International Foundation

VIEW's Projects

VIEW's current projects include:

Research into more efficient ways to produce tactile materials.
Researching the effectiveness of tactile graphics.
The writing of two series of fictional books featuring blind characters who are interested in science.
The collection of materials for distribution to schools in the developing world.
Assisting the Jacobus ten'Broek Memorial Library to find materials created by and for the blind.

Research into more efficient ways to produce tactile materials. In order to understand information presented in a visual way, B/VI students need accurate tactile representations. Traditionally, tactile materials have been difficult and time consuming to produce. New computerized technologies offer a way to rapidly produce tactile materials on an as needed basis. For example, the Roland LEC330 printer can produce large poster sized items that are not only tactile, they are printed in color as well.

Researching the effectiveness of tactile graphics. In the past few decades, research has been done on how B/VI students perceive tactile graphics. Procedures have been formulated to help a transcriber design readable tactile graphics. Interestingly, very little research has been done to show that B/VI persons actually benefit from the use of tactile graphics. VIEW is addressing this list area of research.

The writing of two series of fictional books featuring blind characters who are interested in science. Work is under way to produce two series of books. The first series is named The Anne and Alex Explorer Series. Anne age seven is Sighted and Alex age six is Blind. Anne and Alex are to be adopted by the family of Ben and Mary Walker who live in Forest Grove Oregon. Anne and Alex embark on a series of adventures. They visit real places which their readers could also visit.

Click here to learn more, read some chapters and buy the first book

The second series centers around Jake Walker who lives in Parkville Maryland. Jake is sighted and wants to be an astronaut. Jake has many adventures and is joined by his blind cousins Sarah and Alex.

VIEW is on a small scale, collecting materials for the blind and sending them to schools in the developing world. Because of the effort this project requires, it will be ramped up slowly.

VIEW is assisting the Jacobus tenBroek Memorial Library (JTL) to find materials created by and for the blind. The JTL is part of the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute. Throughout history, a few blind people have managed to do incredible things. Nicholas Saunderson taught Mathematics in the 18th century at Oxford. Leonard Euhler was another famous mathematician. William Prescott was a famous ninetenth historian. Fanny Crosby wrote nearly nine thousand hymns. The list goes on. Other blind people wrote books, composed music and engaged in various trades. VIEW is helping the JTL find and acquire books, recordings and/or other artifacts.