[gui-talk] Fwd: Article: Informational: Braille CD launch is music to the ears of the blind

[Steve Pattison]

>To: BCA-L bca-l at yahoogroups.com.au
>From: Susan Thompson susan at sthompson.net
>
>Braille CD launch is music to the ears of the blind
>By ED PEARSON
>
>A Sevenoaks company is hoping to change the appearance of CDs forever
>with the historic launch of a new single.
>
>Founded by Crockham Hill resident Bob Holt, The Production Agency is
>marketing the world's first ever CD to be printed in Braille.
>
>Mr Holt, 57, who is also a director of music company ASB Ltd, which is
>responsible for releasing Big Sister's football song Come On Sheffield
>United, has his sights set even higher.
>
>He is currently in contact with blind superstars Stevie Wonder and
>Andrea Bocelli in an attempt to bring the two together as part of a
>special musical collaboration.
>
>"I've drawn a line in the sand," said an enthusiastic Mr Holt, "And
>I've said to record companies, 'We've done it, now why don't you?'"
>
>Braille printed on both the plastic case and on the CD itself enables
>blind people to know the content of the music in their hand for the
>first time.
>
>Mr Holt said he did not expect every CD produced to have Braille
>printed on it but what he hoped to see was a situation where blind
>people had the option to obtain one.
>
>According to the entrepreneur, his CD is the only one ever produced to
>satisfy all of the requirements set out by the various institutes for
>the blind, such as the RNIB.
>
>Mr Holt said the Braille printed on the CD is precisely the right
>height and at its launch at Sheffield United's home ground Bramall
>Lane last month, one blind man commented that it was as clear and as
>good as he had ever read.
>
>It can even be printed in circles, which is something very unusual for
>most Braille readers, and it can also be coloured to help people learn
>Braille who are gradually losing their sight.
>
>The revolutionary Braille-printing technique was developed by Mr
>Holt's friend, professor John Davidson, and it is he who owns the
>patent for the product.
>
>The Production Agency, which is based on Sevenoaks High Street, has
>been given the global rights to market this potentially life-changing
>process.
>
>As well as coming up with new ideas of how to take the printing of
>Braille forward, Mr Holt started his own record company and formed duo
>Big Sister - made up of siblings Elouise and Tom Freeman - in order to
>show record companies the way forward.
>
>Mr Holt, who insisted that his interest in the project has nothing to
>do with financial reward, explained that under the Special Educational
>Needs And Disability Act 2001, now that the technique has been shown
>to work, record companies should follow suit and produce Braille
>copies for those who need them.
>
>The single was released on Monday and ASB Ltd will be including a
>Braille option on all future releases.
>
>Anyone interested in printing Braille should contact Mr Holt on
>
><mailto:bh%40theproductionagency.com>bh at theproductionagency.com
>
>www.thisiskentandeastsussex.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=143193&comma
>nd=displayContent&sourceNode=142878&contentPK=15825724&folderPk=82904&pNodeI
>d=142753

Regards Steve
Email:  srp at internode.on.net
Skype:  steve1963
MSN Messenger:  internetuser383 at hotmail.com