Stories
- Article
Life before assistive technology
When an inherited condition caused Alex Lee’s vision to deteriorate, he began to discover the technologies that would help him navigate the world around him. Here he describes how his life began to change.
- Article
The sweet sound of synthetic speech
After Alex experienced a serious deterioration in his sight, he came to rely on artificial voices to help him with everyday tasks. Find out how synthetic speech came to be developed.
- Article
Navigating in a connected world
Alex Lee ponders the promising ideas, stalled projects and pricey gadgets that aim to help visually impaired people get out and about. But it seems that an actual human could be the essential ingredient.
Catalogue
- Archives and manuscripts
English Language Autograph Letters: Kidd-Kramer
Date: 1794 - 1953Reference: MS.8898- Books
- Online
Bibliotheca technologica: or, a philological library of literary arts and sciences. Viz. I. Theology; or the first Principles of Natural Religion. II. Ethics, or Morality; the Doctrine of Moral Virtues. III. Christianity; or the Substance of the Christian Religion. IV. Judaism; or the Religion and State of the Jews. V. Mahometism; or the Life, Religion, and Polity of Mabomet. VI. Gentilism; or the Deitics and Religion of the Heathen. Vii. Mythology; or an Explanation of Fabulous Histories. Viii. Grammar and Language, particularly of the English Tongue. IX. Rhetoric and Oratory; or the Art of speaking eloquently. X. Logic; or the Art of Reasoning and Persuasion. XI. Ontology; or the Science of Being abstractedly considered. XII. Poetry; or the Art of making Verses or Poems. XIII. Criticism; or Art of judging well of Men and Things. XIV. Geography; or a Description of the World. XV. Chronology; or the Doctrine of Time. XVI. History; with the Original of Nations and Kingdoms. XVII. Physiology; or Science of Natural Philosophy. XVIII. Botany; or the Doctrine of Plants and Vegetables. XIX. Anatomy; or a Description of the Parts of an human Body. XX. Pharmacy; or the Art of making Medicines. XXI. Medicine; or the Theory of Physic and Diseases. XXII. Polity and Oeconomics; or the Doctrine of Society and Government. XXIII. Jurisprudence; or - the Knowledge of Law or Right. XXIV. Heraldry; or Art of Blazoning Coat-Armour. XXV. Miscellanies: An Account of the Mathematical Arts and Sciences. By Benjamin Martin, Author of A New and Compendious System of Optics; and A Treatise of Logarithms, Common and Logistical, in Theory and Practice.
Martin, Benjamin, 1705-1782.Date: M.DCC.XLVII. [1747]- Books
Isaac Vossius (1618-1689), between science and scholarship / edited by Eric Jorink and Dirk van Miert.
Date: 2012- Archives and manuscripts
Lecture notes
Hull, Robert, 1795-1856Date: c. 1820-1838Reference: MS.2956/2956Part of: Hull, Robert (1795-1856)- Books
- Online
Wonderful exhibition!!! Signor Gulielmo Pittachio The sublime wonder of the World!!! Condescends to inform the Public at large, and his Friends in particular, that he has now opened his Grand Hall of Exhibitions at Westminster, with a grand display of his Astonishing and Magnificent Deceptions; Which have been approved by all the Crowned Heads in the Universe, and which are unparalleled in the History of Mankind. First-The Signor will bring forward A Magical Alarm Bell, At the ringing of which, all the Company shall become Mad or Foolish. Secondly-He will produce his justly celebrated curious spy glasses, which distort and misrepresent all Objects that are looked at through them, and occasion in the Company a sudden and social dismay; such as has never before been witnessed in this Country. Thirdly-By Means of an enchanted drum, he will set all the Company a fighting, for the avowed Purpose of preserving order and tranquillity. During the Battle, Signor Pittachio will convey their money out of their pockets in a New and Entertaining Manner. Fourthly-He will produce a most extraordinary Effect in the Optics of the Spectators, by means of some Gold Dust, so that they shall not be able to distinguish Colors; but shall call (at the Signor's command) Black, White, and White, Black, to the Edification of all Beholders. Fifthly-He will make some Marvellous Experiments upon his own memory, By forgetting the most Material Incidents of his Life, with an almost incredible Precision. - N. B. To remove Doubts, these Experiments upon memory will be made upon oath. Sixthly-By his Oratorical Efforts, he will in the Course of a few Minutes persuade the greater Part of his Audience to salute him a posteriori, then to give him three cheers and nominate him the heaven-born conjuror; With various Slight-of-Hand Performances and Whimsical Exuberances too tedious to mention. In the Course of the Entertainments the Sublime Pittachip will exhibit upwards of two hundred automata, or moving puppets, Who will rise up, sit down, say Yes, or No, Receive Money, Rake among the Cinders, or do any Dirty Work he may think proper to put them to-N. B. This is a most fascinating Trick. Afterwards Signor Gulielmo Pittachip will discover to the Company the unrivalled Treasures of his private cabinet, formed on a mere Mechanical Principal, without Hinges, Joints, Dove-Tail, or Glue. The Whole to conclude with a Dramatic Piece in One Act, called The Humbug; or John Bull a Jack Ass, In which Signor Pittachio (not having yet engaged any female Performers) will indulge the company with a Solo on the Viol D'amour. N. B. The Hall is commodious, but the Company will be kept as much in the dark as possible, to give greater Effect to The deceptions. Signor Pittachio is extremely sorry to inform the Public, that owing to some unaccountable Mismanagement in the Persons he employed he has been disappointed of several capital Performers whom he had hoped to have brought forward, for the Purpose of exhibiting various Feats of Activity on the tight rope, this Part of the entertainment therefore must be Deferred. To Supply this Deficiency Signor Pittachio will close his Wonderful Performances by exhibiting his own Person on the thight rope. For the benefit of the swinish multitude. Vivant Rex et Regina.
Date: [1794]