[Introduction of the project "Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (WAZ) for visually impaired" (a talking electronic daily newspaper)].

In order to complete the range of topical media, that is currently available for the visually impaired, a working group is developing and testing the "Westdeutsche Allgemeine Tageszeitung (WAZ) for the visually impaired", an auditive electronic daily newspaper. The intention of this project is to take into consideration the needs of the visually impaired, especially of those who acquired the handicap in middle or later age and might feel that not being able to read the daily newspaper anymore reduces their quality of life to a great extent. The central aim therefore is to put the modern computer technology at the disposal of the impaired in a way that enables them to make use of the newspaper without having had previous experience. In a first phase of several months twelve probands in different personal settings will test a first prototype of the newspaper reading machine, a modified and optimated multimedia computer system with modern and speech output, at home. During this period the users will be intensively looked after and undergo psychodiagnostic examination. By means of analysing the data collected in extended talks and questionnaires concrete proposals on how to improve the machine are to be made and a statement about the potential impact of the electronic newspaper on the quality of life of the visually impaired--in the sense of a contribution to their rehabilitation--is to be given.