INSTITUTE

Graduate Thesis
Michiel Brillouet
SAE Bruxelles
AEPS906
SAE lnstitute 2008
Visually impaired sound engineers
Michiel Brillouet J\EPS906
')Al : ln>litutc 2008
ABSTRACT
Shortly after starting an education at SAE ' Bruxelles' 1 searched for a good studio to
practice. The first studio that popped up on my mind was of course, studio Crescendo in
' Genk' . The studio has a good reputation and ' 1 think' it' s the best in ' Limburg' . 1 phoned
the owner and asked if 1 he needed sorne hel p. The owner, Pino Guarraci, a very nice guy,
agreed and so my mission was accomplished.
So there I was, helping around in the studio. Sorne time passed and he asked me "Did you
know 1 was blind?". 1 answered "Of course I know". The reason l'rn telling this, is because
the subject of my paper derived from this unique situation.
This graduation paper will examine if it' s possible for a visually impaired or a blind
individual to operate and fully control a professional or semi-professional studio. My goal
here is to investigate if the market provides enough support for the visually impaired and
blind community. The question "Do blind people hear better?" will also be discussed.
The first chapter will handle the different components of the eye. This information is an
important aspect to understand the way a human being can see his surroundings. Also
severa! eye disorders, which can lead to blindness, will be discussed. The emotional factor
of losing sight is also being handled. Loosing something of su ch importance is not easy.
The second chapter will focus on the possibilities for visually impaired and blind
individuals. Mr. Guarraci's meaning and experience in the audio field is very important for
this paper. During an interview with him, 1 gained a lot of interesting information. His
opinion as a blind engineer, is processed in the chapters.
Mid1id Brill<Hiet ;\Ef'S906 2
INDEX
Abstract
Introduction
Chapter I: Sight
1. The Human Eye
1.1. Parts of the eye
1.2. Functioning of the eye
2. Blindness & Visually impairment
2.1. Causes of blindness
2.2. Colour blindness
2.3. Night blindness
2.4. Snow blindness
2.5. Emotional aspects of vision loss
3. Blindness & senses
3 .1. Smelling
3.2. Touching
3.3. Seeing without sight
3.3.1. Echolocation
3.3.2. Sonic vision
3.4. Hearing
3.4.1 . Do blind people really hear better
3.4.2. Conclusion
Chapter II : Without sight in the studio
1. An experienced blind studio engineer
1.1. Digitalizing
1.2. Papenmeier Braille display
1.3. First modifications
1.4. The software
1.5. Training
1.6. Studio Crescendo equipment
1. 7. The possible future
2. The ProGUIDE project
Final conclusion
Bibliography
Interviews
Books
Websites (&Articles)
Pictures
Videos
Word(s) ofthank
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INTRODUCTION
The people who say: "A blind man can't runa studio", are mistaking. I've seen a man
running around setting up microphones, working with his computer and his hundreds of
shortcuts. Editing audio on a computer with only a keyboard without even looking at the
screen. I should say, beat that.
I leamed a lot while working with Guarraci. While seeing him as a blind engineer, a lot of
questions appeared. Questions like "What are the possibilities for blind engineers?", "Is it
harder?", "Does he really hear better?". I was very motivated to seek sorne answers. As an
audio student I was fascinated how he managed to do all that without vision. As a sighted
audio student, you wonder how it would be like.
Mi<:hiel Brilhmct AEPS906 4
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Chapter I: Sight
Michiel Brillouet ;\ EPS906
5
SAE lnstitutc 2008
1. The Human Eye
An eye gives a person the sense of sight and vision. The eye helps us decipher objects,
colours, and shapes. It can also detect the difference between dim and bright light. There
are many different parts to the human eye but the main ones are the iris, pupil, comea, lens,
and retina.
1.1. Parts of the eye
Here we can see al the visible parts of the human
eye:
o The pupil regulates the amount of light
entering the eyeball by opening or closing.
o The iris controls the light levels inside the
eye similar to the aperture on a camera.
o The sclera is the white colour that we can see
in the eyeball. It's the protective outer coat of
the eye.
This section will describe the function of the main parts in the eye:
o The comea is the transparent front part
of the eye that co vers the iris and pupil.
Together with the lens, the comea
refracts light, and as a result helps the
eye to focus
o The lens main purpose is to focus light
onto the back of the eye. It can change
shapes to focus on nearby and far away
objects.
o 66,6% of the eye consists of the vitreous
humor. It's a substance that fills the
Iris
centre of the eye. The gel is mainly composed of water.
o The re tina is a light sensitive part inside the inner layer of the eye. It captures the
light rays that enter the eye just like a film in a camera.
o The choroid pro vides oxygen and nourishment to the outer lay ers of the re tina and
supports the back of the eye. It is located between the re tina and sclera.
o The optic nerve is a bundle of nerve fibres which transmits visual information from
the retina to the brain. (websites, St. Luke's Cataract & Laser Institute), (websites,
The Macula Foundation Inc.)
Michicl Brillouet AEPS906 6
1.2. Functioning of the eye
When you look at an object, light rays are
reflected from the object to the comea, which
is wbere the miracle begins. The light rays are
bent, refracted and focused by the comea, lens
and vitreous. The job of the lens is to make
sure the rays come to a sharp focus on the
retina. The resulting image on the retina is
upside-down. Here at the retina, the light rays
are converted to electrical impulses which are
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SAE lnstitutc 2008
then transmitted through the optic nerve, to the brain, where the image is translated and
perceived in an upright position!
Think of the eye as a camera. A camera needs a lens and a
film to produce an image. In the same way, the eyeball needs
a lens (comea, crystalline lens, vitreous) to refract, or focus
the light and a film (retina) on which to focus the rays. If any
one or more ofthese components is not functioning correctly,
the result is a poor picture. The retina represents the film in
our camera. It captures the image and sends it to the brain to
be developed. The macula is the highly sensitive area of the
retina. The macula is responsible for our critical focusing
Tt:e Reti na
vision. It is the most used part of the re tina. We use our macula to read or to stare
intently at an object. (websites, St. Luke's Cataract & Laser Institute)
The primary visual cortex is the best studied area
of the brain. It is located in the occipital lobe for
performing the first stage of cortical visual
processing. It sends outputs to other areas of the
visual cortex and also receives information from
the retina. This information is provided by the
dLGN (dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus),
therefore it works as an important relay station
for visual information on its way to the visual
cortex. (websites, Byme & Hilbert)
We will not discuss the ear, because it bas been
fully discussed in class.
Michicll:lrillouct AEPS906
Regkln of overlap
ot two vtsual
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SAE Institut.: 2008
2. Blindness & Visually impairment
Sorne people are born with no vision or significantly reduced vision. The natural aging
process has also a great influence on the loss of the vision, usually starting in the 40s.
Vision loss can happen suddenly or come graduai and can result in absolute blindness.
Classification of the visual handicap is based on sharpness of sight with best correction and
range of vision.
o Visual impaired: the sharpness of sight of the best eye or both <=3/1 O.
o Blindness: the sharpness of sight is less then 1120 or the range of vision is limited to
<=10 (books, Meire & Delleman & La Grange, 1995:50)
2.1. Causes ofblindness
The two main causes ofblindness are (websites, Roodhooft):
1. Cataract
. . .
Cataract is a natural result of aging. Therefore it is
a common syndrome. When old cells die in the
capsule of the lens, they become trapped. The lens
itself is responsible for focussing light and
producing clear sharp images. Overtime the dead
cells accumulate causing the lens to cloud. This
incident results in seeing blurry or fuzzy images.
(websites, St. Luke's Cataract & Laser Institute)
r .....
2. Glaucoma
Glaucoma can cause partial vision loss. This condition
concems an increased pressure causing compression of
the retina and the optic nerve. The increased fluid
pressure inside the eye can lead to blindness. (websites,
Subramanian)
Other causes ofblindness:
1. Co meal opaci ty
2. Trachoma
3. Diabetic retinopathy
4. Onchocerciasis
5. childhood blindness
6. others
(websites, World Health
Organization)
CORNEAL OPAC fT V
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Michicl Brillouet AEPS906
TRACHOMA.
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Blurry Image
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SAE lnstitutc 2008
Retinitis Pigmentosa is the eye disorder that Mr. Guarraci has. RP does not make you
blind until you're 40 or 50 years old. Sorne people retain sorne sight ali their life, others
become completely blind. Mr. Guarraci had a little sight until approximately 20 years
old. He was completely blind from then on. There is no effective treatment for this
disease. Y ou can only slow down the process by wearing sun glasses to protect the
retina from the UV light of the sun. Controversial studies suggest that the disease also
will slow down when taking vitamin A. Professors are stilllooking for new treatments.
For example: using a rnicrochip implant inside the retina. These new possible rnethods
are still in the early stages. (interview, Michiel Brillouet) (websites, Dahl)
2.2. Colour blindness
Colour Blindness does not mean that a person can only see black and white. A person
with colour blindness is able to see different colours. But they cannot identify ali
colours due to deficiencies in the eyes. Colour blindness is hereditary but can also be
caused by several eye diseases such as cataract. There are several types of colour
blindness: Anornalous trichrornacy and Dichromacy. (websites, Fu)
2.3. Night blindness
Night blindness or Nyctalopia is a condition rnaking it difficult or
impossible to see objects as they shift from light to dark or at night.
Degeneration of the rods of the retina (the sensory cells responsible
for vision in dim light) can lead to night blindness. It can also
appear as an inherited deficiency in visual purple, or rhodopsin,
which is the pigment of the rods of the retina. The rhodopsin also
needs vitarnin A, otherwise it willlose its photosensitivity, causing
again the phenomenal night blindness. (websites, Medicinet)
2.4. Snow blindness
Snow blindness can occur with skiers and clirnbers who are in
Rod Ceft
areas that contain lots of snow. This strange phenornenon occurs on high altitudes. The
reflections of the UV ray's can be very dangerous when reflecting into the eye. The
comea will bum which leads to a painful but curable condition. (websites, World
Health Organization)
2.5. Emotional aspects of vision loss
Vision loss is a major change in one's life. It's a disruption of the balance. Chock and
deniai are a natural defence for slowly realising the rneaning of this absence. When
they realise what happened a lot of emotions are set free. Doubt, anger, fear and
confusion are sorne of them. Depression is the worst form of realisation. Ali the se
feelings are normal and necessary for the coping. Eventually they will recognize the
new reality and will win back persona! faith. There are many processing models made
that show the different stadiurns of coping when a loss occurs. The process does not
always go step by step or through organized stages, in fact, people often describe it as a
roUer coas ter of feelings. However, each of the feelings associated with grief bas a
Michicl Brillouet AEPS906 9
SAE lnstitute 2008
purpose in helping us adjust to the changes life brings. Obviously these are very
difficult and emotional times in one's life. (books, Gringhuis & Diety, 1996:5-6-7)
During the interview with Mr. Guarraci, I asked him how he experienced his loss
emotionally. "I was able to see un til I got about 20 years old. After that my sight
disappeared, lights out, total blackness. I don't adapt toit. I have it from birth and I
don't know better. I just adapt to the restrictions and live with it. But emotionally, not
really. Maybe the fact that another person was able to see and I was not. But I never
had problems living with that", says Guarraci. (interviews, Michiel Brillouet) For me
it's clear that Mr. Guarraci has a strong personality. Something that is needed to deal
with such a condition.
Michiel Brill\mer i\EPS906 10
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3. Blindness & senses
It's an often repeated idea that blind people compensate for their lack of sight trough other
senses. This section of the paper will demonstrate if it' s true that they have developed
certain senses better then other, not visually impaired individuals. We will examine the
senses smelling and touching but we will concentrate on the main subject: "hearing".
3.1. Smelling
According to researchers Rosenbluth, Grossman and Kaitz (2000) is there no difference
in the ability to smell between blinded and sighted children, however the blind children
could identify a much wider range of labels to different smells. Therefore the
researchers suggest that the blind children just paid more attention. (websites,
Rosenbluth & Grossman & Kaitz)
3.2. Touching
Researcher Morrongiello et al. (1994) focussed on the sense touching with blind
people. He has done this by giving blind and blindfolded sighted children different
types of abjects to identify. Sorne abjects were miniature versions of large abjects, like
a bicycle, while other abjects were oversized versions of small abjects, such as a big
key. Noticeable was that bath groups used the same strategy to identify the abjects.
They bath got the same number of abjects correct and also made the same mistakes. In
sirnilar research with older children of D'Angiulli, Kennedy & Heller(1998) indicated
that by the age of 13, blind children had developed superior tactile strategies than
sighted children. (websites, D' Anguilli) Pino also claims it's normal that his touching
sense is more developed. Everything in his daily life relies on it. (interview, Michiel
Brillouet)
3.3. Seeing without sight
3.3.1. Echolocation
Echolocation is a form of seeing used by bats and dolphins. By making sounds that
reflect on abjects they can locate the form and place of the abject. Dan Kish,
Director of W orld Access for the Blind, was inspired by this form of seeing used by
these creatures. He started to use the same technique by making severa} click noises
with his mouth. Using this technique he can identify abjects in his surroundings, in
or outdoor, he can even go mountain biking. By his extraordinary achievements he
encouraged other people to use the same technique. His goal is to spread the
existence of echolocation to make the world more visible for the blind society.
(videos, World Access for the Blind)
3.3.2. Sonic vision
Dokter Lesley Kay, founder and director of Sanie vision in New Zeeland, is a
pioneer on ultra sanie sonar. Sanie vision, other then echolocation which is
performed with the mouth, is a vision prosthesis you wear on the head. It works on
the same principles as echolocation. Every abject has his signature, the user needs
!vlichiel Brilhmcr !\EPS906 I l
<;AE lmtirutc 2ll08
to know the different signatures. It sounds the same in complexity on different
distances but the pi teh will change. Pi teh gives the distance and the quality of the
pitch gives you the signature which the user can recognize. (videos, World Access
for the Blind)
3 .4. Hearing
3.4.1. Do blind people really hear better
This is the most important question of this chapter. Many researchers have been
looking for the correct answer to this question. Neuroscientist Robert Zatorre of the
Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) at McGill University and colleagues from
the Universit de Montral, have shown that blind people are better than sighted at
judging the direction of pi teh change between sounds. Be aware that this matter
only concems people who became blind at very young age. (websites, An Ear for
Music) Researcher Ashmead et al. ( 1998) examined how well blind and sighted
individuals could tell which direction a sound is coming from. In this test the blind
also performed better. He suggests that blind individuals are making better use of
their sense ofhearing. (websites, Fujii & Ohsugi & Yamamoto & Nakamura &
Sugiura & Tauchi) Another similar examination gives us also a positive result for
the blind. Researchers have tested 7 sighted people wearing blindfolds, 29 sighted
individuals, 3 nearly blind persons and 8 people who where sightless from birth or
at very early age. The test was individually done in a sound insulated room where
they faced 16 small, concealed loudspeakers arrayed in a semicircle a few meters
away. The head was kept steady with a headrest and the participants pointed to the
perceived origins of the sounds. According to neuroscientist Michel Pare, at the
University ofMontreal, when listening with one ear (monaural), 4 of the 8 blind
individuals identified the sound sources more accurately than their sighted
counterparts. On the side of the blocked ear, sighted people showed especially poor
localization of sounds coming from the speakers. After loo king to the different tests
I must conclude that my first question: "Do blind people really hear better?", has to
be rearranged. After seeing the results of the tests a new question appears: "Do
blind people use their hearing sense more effectively?". I have found severa!
professors who claimed that the brain has a big influence in processing auditory
messages in the visual cortex of the blind. The brain of sighted people leams to rely
on stereo (binaural) eues. People who where early blind or blind at birth tend to use
monaural eues, says Eric I. Knudsen, a neurobiologist at Stanford University
School of Medicine. According to Helen J. Neville, a cognitive neuroscientist at the
University of Oregon in Eugene, sorne parts of the brain ofblind people that would
otherwise process visual images might be reorganized to process auditory
messages. According to Tirn P. Pons, a neuroscientist at Wake Forest University in
Winston-Salem, partly blind individuals have developed their visual cortex for
processing visual information because the visual cortex in the brain devoted itself
not to hearing but to peripheral vision, the only sight remaining. He assumes this
from the poor performances of the partly blind group during a test. The visual
cortex also shows activity when reading Braille. While performing a tactile activity,
blood flow increases in the visual cortex according to a test done in 1996, by a
U.S.-Japanese team. This lets us assume that the visual cortex of a blind individual
is also active when doing a tactile activity. (websites, Nathan Seppa)
Michitl Brilhmct i\EPS906 12
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3.4.2. Conclusion
After reforrnulating the question, "Do blind people really hear better?" to "Do blind
people use their hearing sense more effectively?" there is still no clarification. The
scientific debate about the hearing capabilities of the blind goes on. "1 think these
studies show that folklore probably has sorne element oftruth," Pons says. Such
cornpensatory change in the brain "rnakes sense from a Darwinian perspective: to
increase the capacity to use the rernaining senses better increases your chances of
survival," Neville says. (websites, Nathan Seppa) Guarraci agrees with these
staternents. "Blind people don ' t hear ' better' . The reason that we hear better is
because or ears are better developed. We train or ears unconsciously because we do
everything on the hearing sense. Bear in rnind the fact that we are not distracted by
the visual. " (interviews, Michiel Brillouet) Sorne people really believe in the extra
hearing abilities from Pino, thereby artists choose hirn above others sighted
engineers. This is probably because, as he cites hirnself: "1 can concentrate rnuch
longer on audio because 1 rely on it in every day life." Sorne people clairn that he
can work more effectively and faster because he is not easily distracted by any
visual perceptions.
There are a lot of different opinions. 1 think that there is a possibility that blind
people from early age use their visual cortex rnaybe more to process auditory
messages. However 1 am pretty sure that they use their other senses more
effectively then a sighted persan.
Midtiel Brilh>uet J\EPS906 13
'>AE ln;;titute 2tl08
Chapter II: Without sight in the studio
Michiel Brillouet /\EPS906 14
SAE ln>titutc 2008
1. An experienced blind studio engineer
1.1. Digita1izing
While somebody else will look and reach to all the knobs ofhis gear, Mr. Guarraci
makes certain structures and crea tes certain habits for working with them. One of the
reasons he's pro analogue is because it's easier to operate. "There are no complicated
menus and page' s which you need to control with only a handful of buttons, but only
the knobs with their corresponding function. The biggest reason however is, analogue
sounds pure and is the reproduction of the audio you perceive and record. It sounds
warm and large and has a wider spectrum." Digitalizing includes also working with
computers. With the help of his modified computer and laptop Guarraci is able to
record and edit audio, mainly through Braille and speech.
1.2. Papenmeier Braille disp1ay
The papenmeier Braille display is a highly
recommended tool for blind engineers in
the studio. The BRAILLEX EL 2D-80 is
the biggest and the most complete display.
He has a patented Easy Access Bar. This
equipment guarantees maximum working
speed and comfort. It contains 80 cells
Braile and a 20 cell vertical display.
(websites, Papenmeier)
1.3. First modifications
Stig Hedlund, another blind audio engineer from Sweden had a company named Media
Solutions. He decided to do something about his non adapted equipment. Therefore he
contacted TC Electronics and asked if they couldn 't con vert the output of a M5000
display to Braille. TC Electronics had to release the list of all codes that appear on the
display, so that they could be converted to ASCII and then to Braille. The equipment of
Pino has also been adapted by TC Electronics. AU the displays on his extemal
hardware are adjusted. The data gets split and sent to a display reader. This is an
interface that is connected to a computer via seriai port. Pino just has to select the
deviee he would like to read and the output is given to him by a Braille screen. He was
the first one to test this system. Stevie Wonder, the famous blind musician, also has
these adaptations.
1.4. The software
With the modifications to the digital effects, Pino was able to keep up. "The switch to
the digital domain was not that hard, however without these it would have been very
difficult. ", says Pino. Sonar is the only software he canuse because it is the only
software modified to use with Braille and speech. JAWS another software he uses,
serves as a screen reader and converts the screen to Braille. Dancing Dots an American
company has developed Caketalking, scripts made for JA WS that make it possible to
work with Sonar.
Michicl Brillouet AEPS906 15
SA E l nstitute 2008
1.5. Training
The modifications were done but the only problem left was that he couldn' t work with
Sonar. An American company had sent somebody over to teach him to work with it.
Pino hadn' t many problems leaming the software, because he understood the principles
of audio. ' Het Vlaams Fonds' , an agency for handicapped individuals, subsidized this
education and asked if he would teach others in the future because of the expensive
costs.
1.6. Studio Crescendo equipment
Engineer:
Location:
Mixing desk:
Multitrack:
Software:
Extemal HW:
Pino Guarraci
Genk, Belgium
Raindirk Symphony LN2/48
computer with RME interfaces ( 48Inputs)
Sonar 6 with Caketalk & JA WS
Modified effect processors. Lexicon, TC Electronics ...
1.7. The possible future
Window-Eyes a competitor of JA WS is coming with something new. This software
should be able to create his own scripts and thereby one should be able to run every
software with it. Recently Pino tested a demo version with an mbox and he could
already see the labels of Protools. With a few modifications he should be able to run
Protools and any other software. "First l'rn going to try Window-eyes with Sonar. The
reason being, that I already know this software. If this works out well, I could change
to Protools. But it stays a possibility because it's a big adaptation and also very
expensive.", says Pino. Although his positive comment's, Pino has sorne doubt. He
thinks that there will always be functions within a graphie environment where you will
need to use the mouse.
New extemal hardware is becoming more and more visually. The conversion to Braille
is thereby getting more difficult. Pino has heard rumours of possible hand scan deviees
that could be build in, to read the displays. This information should then be provided to
a light XP system, which he then could read with a Braille screen. However the new
extemal hardware has also software for being edited on a computer. If this Window-
eyes works as it should be, one should be able to edit the extemal deviees on the
computer.
After we had discussed the modified equipment Pino uses, I asked him if the re was
something he desired. "I have all the basic needs for realising a recording session. But
you can always desire more, like microphones, good compressors, good reverbs", says
Pino. If he could really go crazy he would like to have a big controller that works just
like an analogue mixing table. Not a little controller withjust 8 faders for 40 channels
and sections that have multi-purposes. But a controller where every function has is
individual knob. A controller with AUX sends, EQ' s, compressors and gates for
controlling plug-ins, would be very handy. I asked him why he doesn' t use his Mackie
control. "Actions done by a controller are not recognized by JA WS, so l'rn not able to
read iton my Braille screen", says Pino.
Michiel Brillouet /\PS906 16
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2. The ProGUIDE project
1
The ProGUIDE project, with coordinator Stig Hedlund, wants to help irnproving the
possibilities for visually impaired persons, especially in education and working life. The
project has chosen three key professions for the visually impaired: sound engineers,
musicians and producers. (websites, proGUIDE project)
"Newer deviees are getting those endless rotary encoders, but it is impossible to work with
them because I can' t see where I am", says Guarraci. (interviews, Michiel Brillouet) When
digital technology arrived all settings are done by scrolling through menus with lots of
page' s using only a few buttons. For blind people it's impossible to read the output of such
deviees. Within the ProGUIDE project, they have undertaken three steps to change this
situation:
A survey of current needs and prerequisites
The development of software to make the technology accessible, including a
handbook for the visually impaired
The creation of a lasting forum for the dissemination of the project's results to
facilita te further development of the se professions
With the help of the proGUIDE project the organisation has created a reliable and flexible
platform for visually impaired users, so that they can be independent in their daily work.
This platform contains SADiE 5 software and scalable hardware, the Papenmeier Braille
technology and the screen reader adaptations. SADiE has a reputation of good hardware
and flexible software. Y ou canuse it for small field recordings as ajournalist to big studio
projects like music recordings. Editing with video or
video synchronisation is also possible with the
system. What completes the multi-purpose system is
the ability to master. SADiE provides software
assistance and adaptation of the ir software so that
proGUIDE can make the scripts of the software so
that anyone working with Braille, speech or
magnified text is able to use the system. SADiE is
split-up in three categories. The BB2 system for
laptop use is the first, and then we have the LRX2
system for on-location recording and for project
studio use. The last system is the H64/ 128 for the
' bigger' professional recording studio. The Svefi
academy offers good training in a good studio,
accessible for the visually impaired users. The
existence of this project group is a winning concept for the visually impaired users who
want to work in the commercial market. It provides a change to broaden the labour market
and job opportunities. The SADiE system with the Papenmeier Braille display and the
adapted JA WS screen reader has a big influence on this. The project members are: Svefi
Academy (Sweden/Finland), Papenmeier (Germany), Polar Print (Sweden), SADiE (Great
Mi chiel Brillouet AEPS906 17
SAE lnstitutc 2008
Britain), Studio Crescendo (Belgium), Aria Institute (Finland), The Swedish Association of
the Visually lmpaired (Sweden) and the Swedish Public Employment Service (Sweden).
1t is clear that several countries are represented. (websites, proGUIDE project) (videos,
proGUIDE project)
The SADiE system is the first release by the proGUIDE project. It's not yet on the market
but the beta version is being tested. The partners of proGUIDE will get together in,
September 2008, for a meeting to discuss the following steps in the SADiE matter. The
official release date is not yet planned. What's for sure is the high cost. "It's going to be a
very good solution. The adaptations are better performed then the adaptations to Sonar."
says Pino. More internai functions of the SADiE system are brought outside on the
controller, which is a big advantage. (interviews, Michiel Brillouet)
Michiel BrilllJuer ;\EPS906 18
<;A.E lnslltute :!008
FINAL CONCLUSION
When 1 began this search 1 didn't knew what to expect. 1 knew 1 had chosen a unique
subject that didn't involve much people. After all there aren't many blind sound engineers.
When working with Pino 1 just had to go for the challenge.
These days technology keeps on improving in the audio world. Everything is getting more
digital and graphical, better for us, the sighted. While our world is getting forward, the
world of the blind engineers is getting more complicated. Thereby they need to find new
ways and other modifications to keep up.
1 have found out that the following companies had made an effort to modify certain
hardware and software to the needs of the blind and visually impaired sound engineers: TC
Electronics located in Denmark, Dancing Dots located in USA and proGUIDE located in
Sweden with severa} members in different countries. These companies clearly do
understand that blind engineers do not especially need new equipment. This is a goal that's
too high to reach, for now. Still blind engineers want the same freedom to do their
passionate job. To reach the same level as sighted engineers there is one keyword
necessary and that' s accessibility.
If 1 ask my self the question if there is enough support, 1 think the possibilities are good.
Every blind engineer should be able to individually run a studio with the modifications
available on the market. However 1 expected to find more support for the blind. But the
future looks prornising with the arrivai of Window-eyes. But still it' s just a hel p. May be
the SADiE systems of the proGUIDE project can fully grow to a stand alone system for the
blind. Who knows?
Michiel Brilhmet ;\EPS906 19
Bibliography
Interviews
1. Michiel Brillouet (2008),
Interview with Pino Guarraci
Books
1. Meire & Delleman & La Grange, (1995),
Kinderen met een visuele handicap,
Leuven: Acco, 188
2. Gringhuis & Diety, (1996),
Kinderen die slecht zien,
Houten: Bohn Stafleu V an Loghum, 297
Websites (&Articles)
1. St. Luke's Cataract & Laser Institute (),
Eye anatomy,
http :/ /www. stl ukeseye. corn/ Anatomy .asp
2. The Macula Foundation Inc. (),
Understanding & coping with macular diseases,
http://www.macula.org/anatomy/eyeframe.htrnl
3. Byrne & Hilbert (1997),
A glossary ofColor Science,
http:/ /tigger. .htrnl
4. Roodhooft (2002),
Leading causes of blindness worldwide,
http://www.ophthalmologia.be/download.php?dof_id=132
5. Subramanian (2007),
Glaucoma,
">AE ln:.titute ::!008
http :/ /www .nlm.nih. go v /medlineplus/ ency /imagepages/9349 .htm
6. World Health Organization (2004)
Magnitude and causes of visual impairment,
http:/ /www. who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs282/en/
7. Fu(),
Color blindness,
http :/ /www .eyecaresource.corn/ conditions/ co lor-blindness/
8. Medicinet (2000),
Definition of Nyctalopia,
http://www.medterms.com/script/mainlart.asp?articlekey=6448
9. World Health Organization (),
The known health effects of UV,
http :/ /www. who. int/uv /faq/uvheal tf ac/ en/index3 .htrnl
1 O. Rosenbluth & Grossman & Kaitz (2000),
Performance of early-blind and sighted children on olfactory tasks,
http:/ /cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt= 1318160
Michiel FlriilllUCI i\EPS906 20
<;AF ln>tirutc :2008
11. D' Anguilli (),
Haptic Pictures, Blindness and Tactile Beliefs: Preliminary Analysis of
a Case-Study,
http://www.cogsci.rpi.edu/CSJarchive/Proceedings/2006/docs/p1174.pdf
12. Mcgill news (),
An Ear for Music,
http :/ /www .mcgill.ca/news/2 004/fall/newsbites/fi ve/
13. Fujii & Ohsugi & Yamamoto & Nakamura & Sugiura & Tauchi (2007),
Comparison of Different Painting Methods for Sound Localizability
Measurement in the Vision Impaired Subjects,
http:/ /www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpa2/26/3/3 81/ _pdf
14. Nathan Seppa (1998),
Do blind people track sounds better,
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi _rn 1200/is_ n12 _ v154/ai_ 21189683
15. Papenmeier,
B R A I L L E ~ EL 2D-80,
http:/ /www .indexbrailleaccessibility .com/products/papenmeier/el2d _ 80e
.htm
16. proGUIDE project,
ProGUIDE project information,
http://www.proguide.eu/
17. Schellens (2002),
Interview met pino Guarraci: Een job waar muziek in zit,
http :/ /www .kimbols. be/ artikels/werk/pino _guarraci. php
18. Dahl (2008),
Retinitis Pigmentosa,
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency /article/00 1 029 .htm
Michiel Brilhmet AEPS906 21
'>:\E lnstitute 200X
Pictures
1. The eye,
http://www.meb.uni-bonn.de/cancer.gov/Medi a/CDR0000543553.jpg
2. The eye,
http://www.meb.uni-bonn.de/cancer.gov/Media/CDR0000543553.jpg
3. The eye,
http: //www.stlukeseye.com/images/illustrations/eye_emmetrop.jpg
4. The retina,
http :/ /www .stl ukeseye. corn/images/ill ustrations/retina.j pg
5. Primary visual pathway,

6. Cataract,
http://www.stlukeseye.com/imageslillustrations/cataract.jpg
7. Glaucoma,
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/images/ency/fullsize/9349.jp
g
8. WHO Global causes ofblindness as a proportion of total blindness in 2002,
http :/ /www. who .inti entity /mediacentre/factsheets/fs2 82 _ 2. gif
9. Eye and Rod cells,
http: / /www. uphs. upenn.edu/news/N ews _ Releases/jun07 /photoreceptor-
diagram-highres.jpg
1 O. BRAILLEX EL 2D-80
http: / /www .indexbrailleaccessibility .corn/Images/Papenmeier/el2d _ 80.jp
g
11 . proGUIDE logo
http://www.proguide.eu/images/proguide_logo.jpg
12. proGUIDE team
http://www.proguide.eu/images/group_1st_partnermeeting.jpg
Videos
1. World Access for the Blind,
Echolocation,
http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=uobuBc2GOOo
2. proGUIDE (2008),
proGUIDE description,
http :/ /www. proguide.eu/images/frankfurtweb .asf
Michicl BrilltJuet :\EPS906 22
SAE ln;,titute 2008
WORD(S) OF THANK
First 1 would like to thank Pino Guarraci for the interview and for allowing me to run
around in his studio. My girlfriend Dorien, for support and for the great ideas.
For the rest 1 would like to thank the usual ...
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