UNIT 6: DISEASE

A Young Blind Whiz on Computers

by Tom Petzinger from The Wall Street Journal
Sometimes, a perceived disability turns out to be an asset on the job. Though he is only 18 years old and blind,
Suleyman Gokyigit (pronounced gok-yi-it) is among the top computer technicians and programmers at InteliData
Technologies Corp., a large software company with several offices across the United States.
“After a merger last October, two disparate computer networks were driving us crazy,” recalls Douglas Braun, an
InteliData vice president. “We couldn’t even send e-mail to each other.” In three weeks, Mr. Gokyigit, a University
of Toledo sophomore who works part-time at InteliData’s office in the city, created the software needed to
integrate the two networks. “None of the company’s 350 other employees could have done the job in three
months,” says Mr. Braun. “Suleyman can literally ‘see’ into the heart of the computer.”
Mr. Gokyigit’s gift, as Mr. Braun calls it, is an unusual ability to conceptualize the innards of a machine. “The
computer permits me to reach out into the world and do almost anything I want to do,” says Mr. Gokyigit, who is
a computer science engineering major with straight As.
Like most blind people who work with computers, Mr. Gokyigit uses a voice-synthesizer that reads the video
display on his monitor in a mechanical voice. Devices that produce Braille screen displays are also available, but
Mr. Gokyigit says they “waste time.” Instead, he depends on memory. Turning the synthesizer to top speed, he
remembers almost everything he hears, at least until a project is completed. While the synthesizer talks, Mr.
Gokyigit mentally “maps” the computer screen with numbered coordinates (such as three across, two down) and
memorizes the location of each icon on the grid so he can call up files with his mouse.
The young programmer is also at home with hardware, thanks partly to a highly developed sense of touch. Mitzi
Nowakowski, an office manager at InteliData, recalls how he easily disconnected and reconnected their computer
systems during a move last year. “Through feel, Suleyman can locate connectors, pins, and wires much faster than
most other people with sight,” she says.
Mr. Gokyigit was born in Turkey, where at age two he developed an eye condition that left him blind. His parents
brought him to the Mayo Clinic in the U.S., but nothing could be done. “His doctors kept emphasizing, ‘Never
shelter him or pity him,’” recalls his father, Hasan. Today, Mr. Gokyigit’s co-workers call him “Suleyman the
Magnificent,” after the 16th century Turkish sultan who greatly expanded the Ottoman Empire.
Several months ago, on a trip to San Francisco, Mr. Braun had difficulty accessing the company’s mainframe
using his laptop. He needed specific numbers to get into four InteliData files. Instead of asking someone to
manually search a thick logbook of computer addresses, he called Mr. Gokyigit, who had committed the logbook
to memory and produced the proper numbers “in ten seconds,” Mr. Braun says.
Much of the student programmer’s speed comes from his ability to block out distractions while at the computer.
When typing, he listens intently to the synthesizer. His long, thin fingers fly over the keyboard. “Nothing seems
to shake his concentration,” says Ms. Nowakowski, his immediate boss.
Mr. Gokyigit is the only company employee on call 24 hours a day. “We consider him our top troubleshooter,”
says Mr. Braun.

(from Select Reading)

A. Comprehension: Choose the best answer
1. The main idea of this reading is:
A. Suleyman Gokyigit is a very talented computer programmer.
B. Mr. Gokyigit has the unusual ability to visualize the insides of a computer.
C. People have different strengths and abilities.
D. Something you think is a disability might actually be helpful in your job.
2. According to paragraph 4, which of the following statements is true about Mr. Gokyigit?
A. He doesn’t use a voice-synthesizer because he thinks it’s a waste of time.
B. He uses a Braille screen device to find information on the computer screen.
C. He uses a voice synthesizer that reads aloud the information on the screen.
D. He uses his memory instead of a voice-synthesizer.
3. The author’s description of Mr. Gokyigit does not mention which of the following?
A. He was not born in the United States.
B. He earns $25,000 annually.
C. He is a student at the University of Toledo.
D. He is on call 24 hours a day.
4. The article mentions that Suleyman Gokyigit is a straight-A student in computer science engineering.
What can you infer from this?
A. He has a talent for computers.
B. He has a lot of money.
C. He has always gotten good grades.
D. He doesn’t need to study very much.
5. The article mentions that Mr. Gokyigit learned all of the computer addresses in the company’s thick
logbook. What can you infer from this?
A. He wrote the logbook.
B. It’s easy for anyone to learn the logbook.
C. He has a good memory.
D. He learned the computer addresses quickly
B. Vocabulary: Use context clues to guess the meanings of the words below.
1. The word integrate is closest in meaning to
A. separate
B. bring together
C. make interesting
D. interpret
2. The word voice-synthesizer describes
A. a mechanical reader
B. a type of Braille
C. a computer monitor
D. a video display
3. The phrase at home with is similar in meaning to
A. not working with
B. nervous about
C. unfamiliar with
D. comfortable with
4. The word accessing is closest in meaning to
A. fixing
B. getting into
C. learning about
D. understanding