Reading by Ear

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 65, 18 March 1936, Page 10

Reading by Ear

SCIENTISTS’ GIFT TO THE BLIND Miss Caroline Mary Jameson, M.8.E., recently showed me tho first printed book ever to be read by a blind person, writes .a special representative of tho Sunday’Express, ■■London.- Then she demonstrated, the instrument that enabled her to read the book although her eyes are' sightless. It was largely, her work in demonstrating this instrument to scientists and blind institutions that earned her the award of the M.B.E. in tho New Year’s Honours. Mary Jameson is a happy young woman whoso personality radiates contentment and self-posses-sion. She has been blind from birth. “About ten years ago I knew Dr. Fourier d’Albe, when he was inventing the optophone,” she said. “He used me for his experiments. When, with tho help of Professor Barr, it was complete, I demonstrated it before the British Association. "Then I took it to Paris and Brussels and demonstrated it for the Queen —now the Queen-Mother —of the Belgians. I taught children at blind schools to use it"lt is a marvellous instrument. Any blind person can learn in two or three months to*read by ear.” A book .is attached, to tho optophone and .adjustments made to suit the. size of type and spacing. Each letter of the alphabet has its own sound. A ray of light, working on the solignum principle, passes under the lines of type, and ns it touches each letter the sound for that letter is made. “The blind person, wearing earphones, thus hears the printed words. Any book or pamphlet in the English language can be read.”