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think3D Creates 3D Printed Educational Tools to Help Visually Impaired Students
HYDERABAD, India, June 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Unlike normal people who can see objects and learn, visually impaired people are
heavily constrained in their learning process as touch is the only medium through which
they can learn. Creating miniature objects to illustrate various concepts like light,
sound is a prohibitively expensive proposition. But with the advent of 3D printing
technology, this is going to change.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140728/10103324-b )
think3D, a 3D printing company based out of Hyderabad, India understood the impact 3D
printing can have on learning experience of the blind and launched an initiative to
digitize and 3D print all diagrams and educational images from school textbooks to help
educate visually impaired students. This project is done in collaboration with Devnar
Foundation For The Blind [http://www.devnarfoundationfortheblind.org ], a school attended
by more than 500 visually impaired or blind students.
With a desire to do something for the blind using 3D printing technology, think3D
founders got in touch with Dr. Saibaba Goud, the leading opthamologist and co-founder of
Devnar Foundation for the Blind. "We explained him about 3D printing technology and how it
can be used to create 3D models. He was interested in this concept and assigned a faculty
member to brainstorm and come up with a concrete concept," says Prudhvi Reddy, Co-founder
think3D.
Through their discussions with the faculty and children there, it became very clear
that many struggled to understand certain concepts like light, sound, human body without
access to charts and helpful illustrations. "For normal children, we can easily explain by
drawing a picture on the board. They can see and visualize it. But blind children can
visualize only by touch. We do have few visual aids in the laboratory. Those are bulky,
non-portable and are prone to damage easily. Moreover, creation of such visual aids is an
expensive proposition. So, we are commissioning such models for very important concepts
like blood circulation system. If we can get highly portable and durable models at low
cost, that will be a huge benefit for these students," explained Prof. R. Parameshwaran,
faculty, Devnar Foundation for Blind.
On being convinced that 3D printed parts can definitely help teachers to explain basic
concepts to their visually impaired students, the think3D team spent about 45 days
creating digital and 3D printed versions of various concepts from the physics textbooks,
such as light rays that are small, durable and easy to handle. These models were a huge
success at the Devnar Foundation for the Blind, with students and teachers alike. One
student said it was very helpful to begin to understand basic concepts. "This is a light
ray hitting the lens and reflecting back. I can visualize which ray is coming from right,
which one from left, which one is parallel and which one is perpendicular. This model
helped me visualize it very well," said the student from Devnar Foundation for Blind.
think3D has since decided to digitize and 3D print objects from other subjects as
well. "I was really surprised to see that one guy could touch the human eye anatomy and
could instantly recognize the cornea," added Prudhvi. Overall, it became lot easier for
teachers to teach the concepts and for students to assimilate those concepts. And think3D
is therefore planning to continue this excellent approach to special education.
About think3D:
think3D is a company founded by Raja Sekhar Upputuri, MBA graduate from China Europe
International Business School, Shanghai, China and Prudhvi Reddy, MBA graduate from Indian
Institute of Management, Kolkata, India, in July 2014. The company's vision "3D printing
for all" thrives to introduce the fast-growing tchnology of 3D printing to Indian minds.
think3D has joined the bandwagon last year, and since its inception it has been an active
participant to the global movement, changing lives and shaping dreams. Headquartered at
Hyderabad, India, it has a center for knowledge and providing world-class services to
corporate honchos, educational institutes and also the general public. Visit
http://www.think3d.in [http://www.think3d.in ] to find more information.
About Devnar Foundation For Blind:
Devnar Foundation for Blind is the leading school for blind children in India. The
school was started in 1992 with 4 students in rented house. Within a span of 18 years, the
school has grown to the present stature with 400 students, housed in a three-storeyed
building owned by the Foundation. Devnar Foundation for Blind provides all the necessary
tools to bring out the best in the students. Their abilities outshine their disability to
such an extent that the visitors leave the school humbled by the unconquerable spirit,
perseverance and performance of the students. Visit
http://www.devnarfoundationfortheblind.org/ [http://www.devnarfoundationfortheblind.org ]
to find more information.
Media Contact:
Raja Sekhar Upputuri
uraja@think3d.in
+91-9502281460
think3D
Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140728/10103324-b
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140728/10103324-b
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
think3D
think3D Creates 3D Printed Educational Tools to Help Visually Impaired Students
HYDERABAD, India, June 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Unlike normal people who can see objects and learn, visually impaired people are
heavily constrained in their learning process as touch is the only medium through which
they can learn. Creating miniature objects to illustrate various concepts like light,
sound is a prohibitively expensive proposition. But with the advent of 3D printing
technology, this is going to change.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140728/10103324-b )
think3D, a 3D printing company based out of Hyderabad, India understood the impact 3D
printing can have on learning experience of the blind and launched an initiative to
digitize and 3D print all diagrams and educational images from school textbooks to help
educate visually impaired students. This project is done in collaboration with Devnar
Foundation For The Blind [http://www.devnarfoundationfortheblind.org ], a school attended
by more than 500 visually impaired or blind students.
With a desire to do something for the blind using 3D printing technology, think3D
founders got in touch with Dr. Saibaba Goud, the leading opthamologist and co-founder of
Devnar Foundation for the Blind. "We explained him about 3D printing technology and how it
can be used to create 3D models. He was interested in this concept and assigned a faculty
member to brainstorm and come up with a concrete concept," says Prudhvi Reddy, Co-founder
think3D.
Through their discussions with the faculty and children there, it became very clear
that many struggled to understand certain concepts like light, sound, human body without
access to charts and helpful illustrations. "For normal children, we can easily explain by
drawing a picture on the board. They can see and visualize it. But blind children can
visualize only by touch. We do have few visual aids in the laboratory. Those are bulky,
non-portable and are prone to damage easily. Moreover, creation of such visual aids is an
expensive proposition. So, we are commissioning such models for very important concepts
like blood circulation system. If we can get highly portable and durable models at low
cost, that will be a huge benefit for these students," explained Prof. R. Parameshwaran,
faculty, Devnar Foundation for Blind.
On being convinced that 3D printed parts can definitely help teachers to explain basic
concepts to their visually impaired students, the think3D team spent about 45 days
creating digital and 3D printed versions of various concepts from the physics textbooks,
such as light rays that are small, durable and easy to handle. These models were a huge
success at the Devnar Foundation for the Blind, with students and teachers alike. One
student said it was very helpful to begin to understand basic concepts. "This is a light
ray hitting the lens and reflecting back. I can visualize which ray is coming from right,
which one from left, which one is parallel and which one is perpendicular. This model
helped me visualize it very well," said the student from Devnar Foundation for Blind.
think3D has since decided to digitize and 3D print objects from other subjects as
well. "I was really surprised to see that one guy could touch the human eye anatomy and
could instantly recognize the cornea," added Prudhvi. Overall, it became lot easier for
teachers to teach the concepts and for students to assimilate those concepts. And think3D
is therefore planning to continue this excellent approach to special education.
About think3D:
think3D is a company founded by Raja Sekhar Upputuri, MBA graduate from China Europe
International Business School, Shanghai, China and Prudhvi Reddy, MBA graduate from Indian
Institute of Management, Kolkata, India, in July 2014. The company's vision "3D printing
for all" thrives to introduce the fast-growing tchnology of 3D printing to Indian minds.
think3D has joined the bandwagon last year, and since its inception it has been an active
participant to the global movement, changing lives and shaping dreams. Headquartered at
Hyderabad, India, it has a center for knowledge and providing world-class services to
corporate honchos, educational institutes and also the general public. Visit
http://www.think3d.in [http://www.think3d.in ] to find more information.
About Devnar Foundation For Blind:
Devnar Foundation for Blind is the leading school for blind children in India. The
school was started in 1992 with 4 students in rented house. Within a span of 18 years, the
school has grown to the present stature with 400 students, housed in a three-storeyed
building owned by the Foundation. Devnar Foundation for Blind provides all the necessary
tools to bring out the best in the students. Their abilities outshine their disability to
such an extent that the visitors leave the school humbled by the unconquerable spirit,
perseverance and performance of the students. Visit
http://www.devnarfoundationfortheblind.org/ [http://www.devnarfoundationfortheblind.org ]
to find more information.
Media Contact:
Raja Sekhar Upputuri
uraja@think3d.in
+91-9502281460
think3D
Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140728/10103324-b
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140728/10103324-b
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
think3D