A blind chemist's approach to automated scientific information

Abstract

Computer access to chemical information by a blind chemist is made possible with a VersaBraille system (Braille Information Processor). The CAS database of the DIALOG system is used in this updating assay. Preliminary trials showed the need to establish a rigorous procedure to avoid loss of data. In this study, a functional method is suggested as a substratum to circumvent costly problems.

When Versa . . . goes Apple . . . for a blind chemist!

“…Handicapped or not, many chemists find that computers, especially micros, have eased and enhanced the collection of experimental data (5,6) and made subsequent processing easier with appropriate programs (7). Searching the tremendous amount of literature published monthly becomes less tedious for both sighted chemists (8) and their blind colleagues (9). However, for a VersaBraille user, many programs should have provision for control from a remote terminal.…”