陈小宁的博客

盲人的特殊设备

医院的职业康复中心最近来了一位全盲的青年人，为此，除了配备了专门负责他的一位工作人员外，还需要很多人帮助，就连我们计算机部门都派专人去帮助他将一套盲人专用键盘控制的设备与一个笔记本电脑连接起来，还为笔记本电脑配备了普通键盘供其使用。

近距离接触到盲人，而且是要参加具体工作的盲人，还真有点不知所措，所有东西我都能看得清清楚楚，但对于盲人来说，除了靠声音外，就只能靠触摸。他有一台自己的笔记本电脑，配有语音输出系统，还有一台特殊设备，专用控制盒，通过USB线与计算机相连。

黑色的控制盒自带电源，分为三部分，上半部有八个排列成的大号按钮，但并非横平竖直，而是按波浪形排列。下半部分有两个同样的按钮，是平行排列的。而中间则是有二十个格，相当于二十个盲文整齐地排在一起，看起来密密麻麻。控制盒的侧面还有一些按钮和两个USB接口。能看得出来的是电源按钮按钮，旁边还有显示灯，但显然不是给盲人用的。USB口有两种，标准的USB类型和C类型，一大一小。

这个仪器是政府盲人管理协会提供的，盲人都可以根据需要而取得。政府还配备了七天二十四小时热线全天候的技术支持。机器类别很多，价格由几百至上千美元不等，但盲人申请手续很简单。这是国家法律对于残疾人学习、工作和生活的基本保障设备。

第一次去帮助这位全盲的年轻人时，因为没有找到相应的USB连接线，手提电脑和这台设备使用我们提供的普通双向USB中C型接线无法造成两极之间的通讯，插拔接口时能听到机器的反应，但驱动程序无法识别。第二次找到原配的接线就可以建立里两机的通讯。

在这位年轻人的操纵下，我终于明白了两机所建立的工作环境的工作原理。用户依靠听力打开手提电脑，对于计算机上已有的功能可以靠语音提示完成。不过，在有特殊需要时，就需要这个控制盒进行特殊操作。控制盒的输入功能不多，但输出可以有一系列，就是靠手指触觉得到控制盒的反馈。当两机联系建立好了后，用户就可以使用普通键盘进行操作。

这位全盲的年轻人之所以来到医院的职业培训部门，是要通过在计算机上的评估软件对其本身的各种状态进行评估，然后把评估报告上报给政府的主管部门，以便安排后续的培训内容和培训经费等相关事宜。这个年轻人想做的事是文书编辑类的工作。比如需要打一篇文稿，在计算机上找到文字编辑工具就可以用键盘输入，其他靠语音提示的到计算机的反馈。但是如何用简单的操作使计算机达到需要的不同状态，就需要这台控制器提供特殊的帮助，弥补听力不完整。

标准的盲文是六点组成，给盲人的触觉是突出的小点，共有63个种不同状态（25=64，但全部突出的点没有意义，故只有63个可识别状态）。如今，新的八点盲文作为输出功能来使用，大大扩充了盲文的字符数，共有255个可识别内容，当然对于使用者也增加了一点难度。

手指按动面盘或侧面的按键，手指在这二十个白色的盲文表面得到机器送出的盲文。这二十组盲文的每一个点都受控跳起来组成盲文。对于使用者来说，这就是一台带有隐私保护的设备，因为它的输出只有使用者知道，而不像音频输出时如果不带耳机则周围人都可以听到一样。看到输出盲文点在适时跳动，就可以知道，这台特殊设备就是盲人和计算机之间的交互工具。

全球2020年对视力受损害的统计中，盲人的人数有四千多万之多，而这个数字在1990年只有不到三千万，可见随着人口增长，眼睛受损人数的比例也不断上升，因此整个社会都在关注这件事。盲人是残疾的一类，和不同类身体有缺陷的残疾人一样，除了身体功能缺失外，还会伴随心理等问题。作为辅导老师，都是非常耐心地想方设法地帮助他们。

对残疾人的照顾不仅是家庭的责任，更是全社会的责任。除了在生活方面给残疾人提供便利外，也要给他们创造工作机会，靠一些特定的设备帮助他们能和正常人一样自食其力。马斯克的人脑芯片可以使盲人有了视觉的效果，从另一个科技角度纠正了残疾人的缺陷，而这类盲人使用的特殊设备也给盲人开阔了应用的前景。

对待弱者的态度反映出社会的先进程度，也是作为正常人的一种修养，你我都在其中。

Special Devices for the Blind

Recently, the hospital’s vocational rehabilitation center welcomed a young man who is completely blind. To assist him, the center not only assigned a dedicated staff member but also required help from various departments. Even our IT department sent someone to help connect a special device controlled by a Braille keyboard to a laptop, which was also equipped with a standard keyboard for use.

It was my first close interaction with a blind person, particularly one preparing to enter the workforce, and I found myself somewhat at a loss. While everything is visible to me, a blind person can only rely on sound and touch. This young man had his own laptop with a built-in screen reader and a specialized device—a control box—connected to the laptop via a USB cable.

The black control box has its own power supply and is divided into three sections. The top part features eight large buttons arranged in a wavy line rather than a straight grid. The bottom section has two parallel buttons, while the middle section contains 20 Braille cells neatly arranged in a row, appearing dense and compact. The side of the box includes several buttons and two USB ports—one standard USB and one USB-C. The power button and an indicator light are visible, but clearly not intended for the blind user.

This device was provided by the government’s Blindness Management Association and is available to blind individuals based on their needs. The government also offers 24/7 technical support via a hotline. These devices come in various models, with prices ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. However, the application process for blind individuals is straightforward, as these devices are part of the nation’s legal provisions to ensure access to learning, work, and daily life for disabled persons.

During my first attempt to assist the young man, we encountered difficulties because we could not locate the appropriate USB cable. The laptop and the control box could not communicate using the standard bidirectional USB-C cable we provided. Although the device responded with sounds when the cable was plugged in, the driver could not recognize it. On the second attempt, we found the original cable, and the devices successfully connected.

Under the young man’s operation, I finally understood how the two devices worked together. Using audio prompts, the user navigates the laptop’s existing functions. For special tasks, the control box plays a crucial role. While the control box has limited input capabilities, its output is rich, allowing users to receive tactile feedback through their fingertips. Once the connection is established, the user can operate the laptop with a standard keyboard.

This young man came to the hospital’s vocational training department to undergo evaluation through specialized software. The results will be submitted to the government to determine the subsequent training programs and funding. His goal is to work in document editing. For example, he can use a text editor on the computer to type documents via a keyboard and rely on audio prompts for feedback. However, the control box provides essential support for more complex operations, compensating for gaps in auditory perception.

Standard Braille consists of six raised dots, forming 63 possible configurations (2? = 64, excluding the combination with all dots raised). Newer eight-dot Braille, used for output on devices like the control box, expands the possibilities to 255 characters, greatly increasing its capacity but also slightly raising the difficulty for users.

By pressing buttons on the control box or its sides, the user receives Braille feedback through the 20 Braille cells. Each cell’s dots can pop up to form characters, providing tactile feedback to the user. For the blind, this device ensures privacy, as its output is only perceivable to the user, unlike audio outputs that are audible to others unless headphones are used. Watching the Braille dots rise and fall in real-time, it became clear that this control box serves as a vital interactive tool between the blind user and the computer.

According to global statistics from 2020, there are over 40 million blind individuals worldwide, compared to fewer than 30 million in 1990. This increase, alongside population growth, highlights the rising prevalence of vision impairment. As a result, society is paying greater attention to this issue. Blind individuals, like those with other disabilities, face not only physical challenges but also psychological ones. Their counselors, patient and resourceful, work tirelessly to assist them.

Caring for disabled individuals is not only a family responsibility but also a societal one. Beyond providing daily conveniences, society must create employment opportunities for them. With the help of specialized devices, they can achieve self-sufficiency just like anyone else. Technological advancements, such as Elon Musk’s neural chips, offer new possibilities for restoring sight, while devices like the control box broaden application prospects for the blind.

How we treat the vulnerable reflects the level of advancement in our society and serves as a measure of our individual character. Both you and I have a role in this.