Published on Aug 2, 2004

An attractive young lady is sitting in the middle of a room. Her eyes lock on to a face in the room and then back to a small screen. In one hand she is holding a tablet PC while the other skilfully paints a portrait into the device.

Like the other amateur artists sitting together, Akara Jongrakwit, 25, is deaf. However, the impairment is not a problem for her at all when it comes to expressing her artistic talents. Although she cannot hear, she has keen eyes for beauty and her talented hands paint from her imagination - not only on paper but now also on a computer screen, thanks to a project called "Career for the Deaf".

"I love drawing portraits and cartoons and I want to take up a career in this field. Some day in the future I would like to be an artist or product designer," Akara said, using sign language while adjusting her eyeglasses into position.

She learnt how to draw and paint when she was in primary school. Now she is studying as a first-year student at Mahidol University's Ratchasuda College - a college specially set up for people with disabilities.

Here at Ratchasuda, Akara - together with 15 other students - has joined the painting training course, which uses tablet PCs and software contributed by Acer Computer (Thailand). Apart from learning how to draw and paint in a more extensive way, she has also learnt how to operate the machine and get used to software commands and functions when painting electronically.

"The first time I used a computer instead of paper to create a picture it was not so easy. Now I'm familiar with it and I like it. It is easier and faster when working on a machine," she said.

Using a tablet PC, the painters are able to print out their end result as soon as they finish since the device is connected to the printer. One of the benefits of using the technology is that painters can store as many painted images as they want while making a printed copy as often as they need.

The tablet PC-based painting training course is a project co-developed by Acer and Ratchasuda College, with support from the Information and Communications Technology Ministry. The aim is to encourage and train the hearing-impaired who have a talent in painting to not only enhance their skills by using technology, but also to develop a career using their IT expertise.

Under the "Career for the Deaf" project, Acer has donated tablet PCs as well as the software necessary for painting to Ratchasuda, while the college offers the special training course to selected talented students. Jitprapa Sri-Oon, director of Ratchasuda College, said the course offered an alternative opportunity for the students when they graduate to change their talents into a career.

To enhance students' capabilities, she said the college would join with the US-based National Technology Institute for the Deaf to introduce more courses, especially those related to animation.

While the project encourages the hearing-impaired to adopt technology to sharpen their skills and build a career, there is, however, a problem. Although tablet PCs are perfect for drawing and painting, they are rather expensive for the students. "I think it is quite useful. I might be able to use it to develop a career and to teach others, but the price is still high," said Pramote Prommes, 44, a sign-language teacher at Ratchasuda College who is also part of the painting training programme.

To solve the cost problem, ICT Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said the ministry might work with manufacturers to develop a machine at lower cost that all disabled people could afford. Otherwise, interest-free loans might be offered, he said.

Suchalee Pongprasert

The Nation