Robots help blind children learn to write

For the first time, blind children in New Zealand can learn to write with the help of a touch-screen computer and a robot arm.

Teachers are teaching visually impaired children in a system developed by Beryl Plimmer.

When the teacher writes letters on the laptop screen, the pen on the robot arm writes the letter shape.

At that time, the child will hold a pen with one hand, learning the movements of the robot arm to draw the shape of the handwriting while the other hand is on the touch pad to feel the writing.

At the same time, a voice from the computer reads the letter to help children listen to the correct writing.

The technology has brought Dr. Beryl Plimmer from the University of Auckland (New Zealand) to the International Science Award from Italy.

Although only 8 children were blinded, Plimmer's findings proved very positive.

Plimmer argues that using this technology, blind children learn not only how to feel the shape of their writing, but also how to sharpen their pen and merge the letters into words.