NAB flags connectivity issues as barrier to adoption of smart canes
Panaji: The National Association for the Blind (NAB), St Cruz, which is employing technology to help visually impaired individuals lead more independent lives, has flagged poor internet connectivity as a hurdle to enabling rural citizens to use high-tech tools like smart canes and wearable glasses.
Smart canes and wearable glasses, which use sensors and cameras to detect obstacles, depend on reliable internet connections—something that is lacking in Goa’s interior areas.
“Sometimes the cane gives the wrong signal because of poor network,” said NAB Goa Executive Member Mahadev Sawant, adding that though such tools such as smart specs and audio-based classroom aids are available, their use remains limited due to infrastructure challenges and lack of awareness.
Meanwhile, NAB is training over 300 visually impaired individuals—from children as young as six to senior citizens in their 80s—in computer and smartphone literacy at its centre in St Cruz, helping them become more self-reliant.
“It all started more than a decade ago, when a student who had learned computer basics in 2011 took over as a teacher. Since then, this grassroots initiative has evolved into a full-fledged digital literacy programme for the visually impaired, many of whom once believed they had no place in the world of technology,” said Sawant.
Using screen-reading software like NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access), students learn to operate computers without sight. “They can check emails, write documents, and even read books,” said Sawant. “We have trained people who are now working in the private sector, in environmental fields, and even pursuing post-graduate degrees.”
Smartphones have also become essential tools. With Android’s built-in accessibility features like TalkBack, users can manage tasks, stay connected, and call for help in emergencies using gesture-based controls.
Government initiatives like the Purple Fest are welcome, but Sawant said more needs to be done. “Many families still hide their child’s disability due to stigma. Children are kept at home and denied education or career guidance.”
The course is open to any visually impaired person who has completed Class 10 or 12, or is simply interested in learning how to use technology to become independent.
