Barcod-to-Speech Reading Machine Informational Materials with Barcodes

Eisai (Japan) has been providing employees with training that includes simulated experience as an elderly person. The training has allowed employees to gain a deep sense of the struggles of the elderly in daily life, with difficulties in seeing, hearing, and moving.

The Medical Information and Compliance Department, which creates informational materials regarding prescription drugs, has considered information that is not limited to conventional text materials.
Though materials have been prepared in Braille, surveys of the visually impaired and interviews with relevant organizations revealed that few individuals had the ability to read Braille. After further consideration, the department determined to begin providing information in audio format. A special device is used to read barcodes printed on materials, then play the corresponding audio. This is the first attempt to use this technology for the visually impaired in Japan's pharmaceutical industry.

This makes it easy even for visually impaired individuals to understand information regarding the proper use of medicine, helping to prevent misuse and reduce worries about taking medicine, as well as to give the individual's family and medical staff a sense of security.
The Japan Federation of the Blind and the Japan Association for the Visually-impaired Information Support presented Eisai with certificates of appreciation for these activities.

We will continue to promote barrier-free pharmaceutical information by providing materials that are easy for the patient to read and understand.