Barmer, March 10 -- IIT Jodhpur, in collaboration with Jodhpur Zila Parishad and the Social Welfare Department, has launched Project GITA (Gyan in the Air) under which it has developed advanced technological tools to help visually impaired and deaf children with digital learning, sign language practice, and creative expression. Dr Pranjal Pratim Borah, assistant professor at the School of Design, IIT Jodhpur, said, "Project GITA aims to make visually impaired and deaf children self-reliant and digitally empowered," he added. Under the project, advanced technological tools are being developed to enhance the education, creativity, and thinking abilities of these children. Specially designed smart instruments directly connect visually impaired and deaf children with the digital world. A key device, "Namya," uses bending-based inputs and delivers feedback through audio and vibrotactile responses. "Namya allows visually impaired students to interact with digital interfaces in a simple and intuitive way," Dr Borah said. "Through audio and vibrotactile feedback, they can understand and navigate computer screens more easily." This device enables students not only to pursue education but also to navigate screens via a softpad interface. The vibrotactile and audio feedback technology is poised to mark a milestone in digital education for visually impaired students. For deaf children, Project GITA offers equal transformation. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)-based systems allow them to learn sign language in immersive virtual environments, making traditional methods more accessible and effective. "By using AR and VR, we are trying to create an immersive learning environment where deaf children can practice and understand sign language more effectively," Dr Borah said. He added that several new devices are under development at the InterACT Lab research facility. "Our team is also working on innovations such as Vaani and Namya Version-2, which will further expand the possibilities of digital learning and creative expression for these children," he said....