Amrita Hospital, Kochi, in collaboration with the National Federation of the Blind Kerala, BPCL and Sakshama Kerala, celebrated the 216th Birth Anniversary of Louis Braille. The event was highlighted by the inauguration of the Amrita AI-Powered Technology for the Blind and the distribution of Smart Vision Glasses, showcasing a significant step towards empowering the visually impaired.
The event featured a series of enriching sessions, training programs, and cultural activities designed to honor the legacy of Louis Braille while promoting innovative solutions for the visually impaired.
The ceremonial lighting of the lamp was graced by Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, Vice Chairman of Mata Amritanandamayi Math and President of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, alongside other dignitaries. Hon’ble Justice (Rtd.) Gopinathan P. S. inaugurated the function.
Dr. Gopal S. Pillai, Head of the Ophthalmology Department at Amrita Hospital, Kochi, stated that while advanced technologies like retinal microchips, stem cells, and gene therapy are available for the blind, their high costs make them inaccessible to the common man. Amrita’s indigenous research aims to bridge the gap between quality and technology, offering affordable solutions.
Dr. Prema Nedungadi, Associate Dean of the School of Computing, Amritapuri, and Director of Amrita CREATE, introduced AI-Assisted Technology for the Blind, emphasizing the transformative impact of cutting-edge innovation.
Other distinguished guests, including Sri C. C. Kasimany, General Secretary of the National Federation of the Blind, Kerala. Sri Satheeshkumar, Elanji, President of NFB Kerala, Sri T. S. Radhakrishna Jee, music composer; representatives from BPCL and Dr Anil Radhakrishnan, Consultant Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Amrita Hospital, Kochi were present at the function.
The key highlights included Smart Vision Glasses Training, a hands-on training session was conducted to familiarize participants with the features and benefits of the smart glasses, Braille Reading Competition in English and Malayalam highlighted the capabilities and talents of the visually impaired and Showcase of Accessible Devices as part of the Digital Literacy Awareness Workshop by RCGF Project Surya in collaboration with Enable India, accessible devices were displayed, demonstrating advancements in digital literacy for the blind.
