Tuesday, 22 July 2014

Currency Accessibility To blinds

The blind in India identify paper currency partially, as denominations-wise they come in different sizes — the greater the value of a bank note, the larger the size.

 You cannot eliminate altogether the element of chance in identifying a rupee bill without an improvised device. There are also other indicators on bank notes — various shapes displayed in raised print — to represent particular denominations. 

These can be felt by touch only on new bank notes. But it can still be hard to decipher the values they connote. Similarly, there are in circulation today coins of the same denomination in different sizes (two rupees), as also coins of different denominations in the same size (50 paise and one rupee). Besides, there are three types of five-rupee coins, all of which can cause confusion to the blind. Standardisation and consistency in coin design could ensure the distinctness of each value. Wavy edges and hexagonal shapes were present in coins that have been withdrawn

International practice favours the adoption of tactile features, for not all users read Braille

Assistive gadgets and mobile applications also help in the identification of currency

The installation of voice-activated features on all automated teller machines and the extension of chequebook and locker facilities for the blind are some of them.

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