FEATURE FOR RELEASE WITH BC-TECH-ISRAEL-BLIND, 2001-03-05 (photo)

Blind Israeli Ariel Gamliel uses a special computer mouse to study a map of the Old City of Jerusaelm March 5, 2001. The mouse acts as the eyes of the partially sighted and blind by helping them view computer graphics through touch. Manufacturers tout the VirTouch systems (VTS), as a quantum leap toward their integration into the world of the sighted. VTS allows the blind to recognise graphic shapes, pictures, play tactile computer games and read text in normal letters or Braille by placing fingers in three pads that respond when a cursor on the computer screen touches a graphic or letter. NB/AA