The International Institute of Information Technology (IITH) has developed a library to offer the visually impaired students access to educational materials in 12 main Indian languages through Drishti Library, which is a new digital initiative.
When the majority of students can access textbooks from various libraries, be it digital or physical, a simple step as opening a textbook, stands as a major obstacle for the visually impaired students, particularly at the university level, where accessible textbooks are hard to come by and often require a scouring through a maze of unavailable Braille editions, low quality audio recordings, or exclusive programs.
The Drishti Library of the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Hyderabad offers a state-of-the-art language technology with a user-first approach based on accessibility and aims to help the visually impaired students in accessing the world of textbooks.
What is Drishti Library, the New Initiative of IIIT Hyderabad?
Drishti Library, a new digital initiative created by the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Hyderabad, by a researcher is an integral part of the Government of India-led Bhashini Initiative, a nationwide endeavour to develop AI-driven language technology for all Indian Languages. The main aim of the project is to make higher education textbooks accessible in the following two formats:-
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Audiobook
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Braille Forms
This new digital initiative will begin with Punjabi and will work its way up to other languages and academic fields. Drishti Library’s aim is strictly scholarly, in contrast to volunteer-driven audiobook initiatives that often emphasise general reading.
Accessibility and Bhashini’s Language Stack
The Drishti Library’s technology is based on Bhashini’s primary goal, which is as follows:-
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In line with Bhashini’s larger vision of inclusive, language-first digital infrastructure, the library is built on OCR systems which were created under a national partnership. The program offers an inclusive and accessible listening experience and is especially made to accommodate visually impaired users. Some of the main features of the new digital initiative, Drishti Library, are as follows:-
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When combined, these characteristics guarantee that people with visual impairments can access audiobooks efficiently and comfortably. The Drishti Library, a component of the Bhashini Mission, represents a significant change in which language technology is not just used for speech or translation but also for educational fairness and the dignity of access for millions of visually impaired students throughout India.
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