'Keep the books talking'

By David Faucheux

Recently, the idea was suggested that the government not spend so much money, 75 million dollars approx., to shift the Talking Book program over to digital format. Of particular note was the idea that an existing commercial player would work--either one for CDs or MP3 files. I realize government has been criticized for its outrageous expenditures including hexaform rotation devices costing hundreds of dollars. We won't even discuss the hundreds of billions of dollars paid out to fund the current war while making Iraq a democratic showplace and to secure lucrative private business contracts there.

Copyright requires that the recorded materials be used by persons who cannot read conventionally print and using commercial devices with existing commercial formats will not guaranty this. In addition, commercial players are often not designed with a blind person's needs in mind. Such devices as cell phones, iPods, and even appliances use touch screens that often change functions. I dread having to buy a new TV or telephone or jam box because of this and hang onto my old stuff much longer than most people in this throw-away culture. Special players and special formats are still the best way to go.

Related: Washington Post editorial, Keep the books talking.

Blind mathematician speaks

By David Faucheux

T.V. Raman, blind engineer now with Google, was asked to write an article describing what it is like to be a mathematician who cannot see.

The article, "Thinking of Mathematics," and a commentary written to address subsequent questions, is here. Raman hopes that it will encourage blind math students and serve as a resource for their teachers.