New technology to be used by the visually impaired

In line with its social investment programme for 2005, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has announced that it is to build an Information and Communication Technology Centre to serve the blind and the visually impaired population in Oman. PDO has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Education to fund the building and Information and Communication Technology Centre at the Omar bin Al Khatab Institute for the Blind.

Dr Saif bin Said Al Ma’amary, director-general of education, signed the MoU on behalf of the ministry, while Abdul Amir Al Ajmi, PDO engineer and head of external affairs and communications, signed on behalf of PDO.

Al Ajmi commented on the occasion: “PDO is proud to be providing a centre that will help make sure the blind and visually-impaired people of Oman can take advantage of information technology revolution. We all now take computers and the Internet for granted, but it is important that sections of our society are not excluded from its benefits because of disability. We hope this centre can play a part to improve the lives of, and provide opportunities to, the blind and visually-impaired of the Sultanate.”