The ITS Braille Research Team presented the Braille printing machine made by ITS and ITTS to the SLBN 1 Palangka Raya program.

ITS Campus, ITS News – Successfully creating 10 Braille printing machines, the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) is committed to providing access to these machines throughout Indonesia. Based on a proposal and request from the Directorate of Community Education and Special Education (PMPK), the ITS Braille Research team had the opportunity to contribute innovations and provide operational training to the State Extraordinary School (SLBN) 1 Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, Saturday (9/10).

Head of the ITS Braille Research Team, Dr. Tri Arief Sardjono ST MT, said that this Braille printing machine has been developed since 2012 and modified the same tool from Norway. The modified ITS team was able to print 400 Braille characters per second from the previous only to print 200 Braille characters per second. “This version also provides a voice feature, so friends who are blind can operate this machine too,” he said.

The ITS Braille Research Team explains the operation of the Braille printing machine.

On this occasion, he continued, apart from handing over, ITS also provided standard operational procedure (SOP) training in operating Braille printing machines. The training was given to SLBN 1 Palangka Raya students to perform, maintain, and repair the appliance made by ITS and the Surabaya Telkom Institute of Technology (ITTS).

Following technical training, several representatives from SLBN 1 Palangka Raya will be selected to come to Surabaya in person. The representative will be trained to perform some light maintenance on the Braille printer, and a unique program will be made to perform heavy maintenance. “So, for more serious problems with the engine, there will be special training,” added Tri.

Submission of a letter of assistance in the form of a Braille printing machine from ITS to SLBN 1 Palangka Raya

This ITS Biomedical Engineering Department lecturer explained, SLBN 1 Palangka Raya was assisted because of the needs and requests from the school. The PMPK Directorate then submitted the proposal from the school to ITS.

A representative from the Directorate of Community Education and Special Education, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) Andy Akhmad MT also expressed his support for ITS in procuring supporting tools for people with special needs in Indonesia.

The handover of Braille printing machines to this particular school (SLB) in Kota Cantik is the tenth time this has been done. “It is hoped that every province in Indonesia can have this printing machine so that the provision of facilities such as filing and newspapers for the blind people can be evenly distributed,” he hoped.

Meanwhile, the Principal of SLBN 1 Palangka Raya, Jambi D Nudin SPd MPd, greatly appreciated the contribution from ITS and the PMPK Directorate. With this, the school and the surrounding community can receive the benefits. Previously, SLBN 1 Palangka Raya received teaching materials and textbooks for the visually impaired through the assistance of the directorate and submissions from other districts. “This machine can be used for filing purposes as well as for blind people,” he added.

Photo with the ITS Braille Research Team with SLBN 1 Palangkaraya students and representatives of the PMPK Directorate

Director of Research and Community Service (DRPM) ITS Agus Muhammad Hatta ST MSi Ph.D. added that ITS is also developing several other assistive technologies and the Braille printing machine. Some of them are bionic hands and feet, hearing aids, and learning media development for children with autism. “This is done to be able to accommodate and provide facilities for people with disabilities,” he said.

Furthermore, Tri hopes that with the donation of this machine, SLBN 1 Palangka Raya can become a Braille printing center for the surrounding area. So that all the printing needs of Braille files can be done in one place for one spot. “The goal is that those who have this machine can become a braille books provider, publisher, library, and training center for Braille printing machines,” he concluded. (ITS Public Relation/far)

Reporter: Muhammad Miftah Fakhrizal