The newspaper is received and stored in a micro-computer. This enables people with a print-handicap to have all the news stories the same as somebody fully sighted. Since there are over 500,000 visually impaired and over 80,000 mobility impaired persons in Canada and other persons with disabilities which make it difficult for them to read a newspaper, a datacast ing service was required to distribute the text of the newspaper in order that they all be served. Over 20 newspapers are now available in Canada at the same price electronically as they cost in pape r format. The only difference is the delivery mechanism.
Similar projects are underway in Sweden, Britain and Japan.
In conjunction with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, an international network of Newspapers for the Blind is being instituted so that information gained in each of the projects will benefit from other's work. The system in use in the United States uses the stereo channel of a TV broadcast to distribute a narrative of the scenes on the screen between the dialogue on-screen. The Canadian project, in partnership with programme developers, broadcasters and cable companies, is to examine other mechanisms than stereo broadcasting by which the description can be distributed. Some software will need to be developed to properly synchronize the description and dialogue of the described shows. Once standards are developed for descriptive video, Canadian broadcasts will be able to be made available across the world and a global network of shared shows will make the lives of the visually imp aired more pleasant.