Here we'll say something more about the TLB project:

* Why TLB? - What was our motive and why we did this, in the first place.
* What is so special about TLB ? - We think this is a unique project, so far in Croatia. Why?
* Technologies applied - What kind of technologies we used, in general.
* Project IPSIS-TLB - TLB is just a part of a bigger project...
* The people involved - Who is running the show?

Why TLB?

Nowadays, blind people are faced with many problems. The traditional working places for the blind, such as telephone operator or cardboard worker are being replaced with modern technologies. A blind person cannot use modern digital devices that are not properly adjusted. Unfortunately, the special adaptive equipment used for that purpose is quite expensive.

We can easily claim that the knowledge of computing technologies for an individual has grown from just a trend to a basic necessity. Digital information in a variety of forms can be obtained using a personal computer. The blind should have the same privilege. For now, they are limited only to the special materials such as Braille or enlarged print, and talking books. A personal computer, equipped with the adequate software and hardware, could give the blind person a possibility to communicate with sighted people in almost an equal manor (e.g. by E-mail).

TLB (Talking Linux for the Blind) is designed exactly for that purpose, to make the everyday communication of blind individuals easier, and to help them to overcome their handicap. Our intention is to develop an efficient and inexpensive software package, which is adapted to all blind or partially sighted computer users in Croatia, enabling them to use basic computer applications or the Internet. (top)

What is so special about TLB?

TLB is a self-sufficient distribution contained on a single CD. This makes it possible for a blind person to use one TLB copy on a range of different computers. Certainly, it would be expected that each user has a personal computer, on which TLB is run most of the time. But also, it is presumed that a user can take a TLB CD with him, either traveling, visiting a friend or similar, and use it there with the same possibilities as from home.

The other very important characteristic of TLB is accessibility. The system is designed primarily for the blind and partially sighted computer users. It is not an adaptation of an existing solution, but an autonomous system, developed with the needs and whishes of the blind in mind.

The system is intended for a range of computer users, from complete beginners to experienced users. Along with a CD distribution, a thorough help system is offered, containing also an audiotape with a recorded user manual.

The TLB was created as the first operating system with speech support in Croatian. This means that the targeted users are blind individuals in Croatia, not necessarily familiar with foreign languages. Never the less, we intend to implement some other languages, making the TLB useful even in international terms.

TLB is Internet aware. A number of TLB applications are directed to use the opportunities offered by a modern global network. Through IPSIS web portal and many other on-line resources, a blind computer user can become a part of the Internet community and get the adequate assistance.

This is the first project of this kind in Croatia overall, so it may be considered as setting the ground for similar projects in the future. We are also planning to keep improving TLB, correcting the bugs and adding new features. The priority is the development of an OCR application (Optical Character Recognition) purposed for text digitalization.(top)

Technologies applied

The main idea behind the project has been to distribute TLB with minimum expenses possible. Basically, this means that no commercial or licensed software may be used. In fact, all of the software used was either free Open-source or our own programming solution.

The basis of the system is OS Linux. The reason for choosing Linux was obvious. Linux distribution can be obtained at no cost, along with related support and software. TLB needs its own operating system, which enables it to run independently of the operating system installed on that specific computer. It also makes it possible to run TLB on different machines.

A special speech synthesizer, with an interface for the Croatian language, was created and implemented in the system. Along with the necessary hardware, this constitutes the audio desktop of our system. Basically, the words (sentences) are assembled with records from the Croatian vocal database, and afterwards played in an audio format through the computer sound system. As mentioned earlier, the audio desktop is the easiest way for users to receive information and comprehend what is actually happening on the screen. Upon this audio desktop, specially developed applications for the blind are now added. In the application development process some existing solutions were used and some applications were written literally from scratch. For this, several technologies were applied (e.g. programming in C, Python etc.). (top)

All of this is shown in the following scheme:

Project IPSIS – TLB

The IPSIS project was initiated at the beginning of 2001 as an informal study within the academic community of the University of Zagreb, in collaboration with the Croatian Association of the Blind. The blind students themselves expressed their problems such as difficulties in communication and feelings of deprivation. Their opinion was that ways to get out of this situation could be found in the use of the Internet and modern communication technologies. Finally, a non-formal organization was founded and joined all individual efforts into one project, aiming to offer better computing solutions for the blind. We are hoping that, in the end, this project could significantly improve the everyday living for a blind or a partially sighted person.

Project IPSIS has four independent development phases:

* TLB Linux distribution for the blind
The intention is to develop inexpensive computer software using the technologies already developed within the Open-source community. This system would be optimised for the visually impaired people allowing them to access the Internet and use the most common computer applications. This system would not only give to a blind or partially sighted user equal opportunities in communication with the sighted people (through the web, e-mail etc.) but would also be used as an active learning platform.

* Web portal for the blind www.ipsis.hr
Connecting to our web portal a user is offered daily news, participation in a forum and other themes. Also, a number of interested web resources for the blind and related links can be found.

* Digital collection of textbooks, literary works and other written material with over 1000 titles should be available especially for the blind or partially sighted.

* Free Internet access for visually impaired people. One of the goals is to make the Internet accessible for the blind and partially sighted users for it is a starting point for any further development. Our opinion is that this service should be free of charge for our users.(top)

The people involved

Project team consists of young people, gathered in organisation of Croatian Association of the Blind. The team is made of: volunteers, CAB employees, honoraries, and young men who are doing their civil service in CAB. For now, this is functioning very well.

If we should point out just one person, "responsible" for all of this, it would be Danko. Danko, a CAB employee, wanted to make a difference and was a member of the original IPSIS foundation team in 2001. His exact word were "The project has been somewhere in the air for quite some time now and someone had to start it up. So, here I am; coordinating teams, seeking out new guys to join and help... Expectations? I expect much. This has to work!"
Other members of this dynamic team can be found here.

We have a number of cooperatives:

1. Croatian library for the blind - gives us server disk-space, and collaborates on building digital collection. cl.blind@zg.hinet.hr

2. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electronics - Consulting and programming in C and Perl.
www.fer.hr

3. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Philosophy, and University of Rijeka - Collaborated on speech engine development; collaboration on Digital Collection development. www.ffzg.hr

4. Educational center "Vinko Bek" - Testing of the speech system. www.skole.hr/srednje

5. "HULK" (Croatian Association of Linux Users) and "HrOpen" (Community for development and promotion of OpenSource projects) - help with development of linux distribution.
www.linux.hr, www.open.hr

6. Ne-Tra Computers. Lease of hardware for testing. www.netra.hr

7. Croatian Campaign against War, Union 47 - Help with lobbying for high-skilled IT professionals within the program of Civil Service. www.zamirnet.hr/unija47/unija47.html

8. Ministry of Justice. Provided us with high-tech personal through its program of Civil military service. www.vlada.hr/min-pravo.html

Also, we are grateful to our donors:

Most of the funds has been donated by
Institute open society Croatia, www.soros.hr

Iskon internet
www.iskon.hr

Termoclean - Zagreb d.o.o.
www.cursor/termoclean

(top)