The Use of New Technologies in the Education of Blind Students Integrated into Ordinary Schools

Abstract

A couple of years ago most of us were deeply involved in discussions concerning the threats and the possibilities of new information technology. At that time the arguments were rather general and education was mentioned only as an exception. Looking back I am surprised that the picture of threat was not stressed more emphatically as only a few years earlier we had finally put educational technology, especially programmed instruction and the simple stimulus‐response paradigm, to death. Visually impaired students were hardly mentioned in the discussions and even then the question was merely how to give them access to the new technology. The nature of discussions in 1988 is very similar. One of the reasons why we have not painted a picture of threat results, in my opinion, from our limited knowledge. This is especially true when it comes to the use of technology for the education of blind students, integrated within ordinary schools. By new technology I mean computers and microprocessor‐controlled aids.