The word communication in the computer science field is associated with data communication. In the original context, communication is "person-to-persons communication" using some language or the human voice. Nowadays, handicapped people are assisted in communication by informational equipment. The authors have developed several tools as welfare communication tools for handicapped people and related volunteers. The main theme is a support system for the visually impaired and blind. Not only is research level equipment developed, but also commercial products. In this paper, several are described, along with some problems encountered in the development of welfare communication and accessibility to handicapped people.

Micro capsule paper has been developed by Yonezawatt [6,7] for tactile pattern. To learn printed Chinese characters (called "Kanji" in Japanese), several relief characters have been prepared to enable the blind to study these complicated printed characters by this micro capsule paper. All prepared characters (alphabet, braille patterns, Kanji) data for micro capsule paper are converted PostScript I language[I] by a developed tool. Although this matter has been thought of a local topic in Kanji cultural area, hidden problems containing some common subjects exist in all forms of written language. There are several communication tools (braille, telephone, audio equipments, etc...) for the blind, especially Optacon (optical to tactile converter) is one of a few equipment which reads visual information. To realize the original printed characters is an essential matter when the blind use the Optacon. In any case, people who do not have basic knowledge about printed characters can not understand anything. And it is important for the blind to understand written language, so original character learning is a matter of great essentials. However learning Kanji characters is a Japanese problem, the research and discussion in this paper also contain practical applications and common problems for other written language.

A braille reader is developed as an input device on a personal computer. This mechanism is direct touch for embossed point on braille paper by an isolated thin metal wire. We designed a braille reader considering standard input/output interface/3/of general computers, then this can connect any other large/small computers. Not only a braille reader is used by the blind and volunteer, but such a useful machine should be set up in public offices and libraries. ~rthermore, this braille reader makes many copies of an old braille document which exists only one.