Former professor creates vibrating Braille handset

Braille phones in and of themselves aren't all that unique, but a former professor (who just so happens to be completely blind) from Tsukuba University of Technology has crafted a variant that jumps and jives. Dubbed the world's first vibrating Braille cellphone, the device is programmed to emit pulses depending on which key is pressed; more specifically, a pair of terminals attached to the handset "vibrate at a specific rate to create a message." Those currently involved with the project are now toiling to make the keypad-to-vibration converters smaller, but there's no word just yet on whether the technology will be picked up commercially.

[Via FarEastGizmos]

[Anonymoose @ Apr 8th 2008 10:48AM]

will these phones have mobile tv on them?

[TimeyWimeyStuff @ Apr 8th 2008 11:01AM]

Lol what is he doing in that picture??

[Big Wizz @ Apr 8th 2008 11:06AM]

*trying to refrain from vibrator joke/comment*

[Anonymoose @ Apr 8th 2008 11:17AM]

judging from the look on his face and the position of his right hand, you might want to think about refraining from making comments about jerkin the gherkin too.

[Deputy Doffoos @ Apr 8th 2008 12:23PM]

because blind people need their little pleasure too

[Big Wizz @ Apr 8th 2008 11:07AM]

Just looked at the pic again.

Why the hell is a blind guy wearing glasses? Cataracts?

[Anonymoose @ Apr 8th 2008 11:10AM]

yeah, something about this seems extremely maggie lizer to me

[Ralph @ Apr 8th 2008 12:21PM]

Legally blind does not necessarily equal completely blind, in the same way that you can be hearing impaired and not be completely deaf.

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 8th 2008 1:18PM]

@Ralph:

".. but a former professor (who just so happens to be completely blind)"


Uh...

[Skawt @ Apr 8th 2008 11:36AM]

... Is the phone connected to a Wii?

[Harry Gayle @ Apr 8th 2008 12:40PM]

Why not ad tones for words or letters?

[nDee @ Apr 9th 2008 6:00AM]

ad tones would be annoying, I suppose.

[Joe Anstine @ Apr 8th 2008 12:41PM]

cool. def has some potential.

[phanbouy @ Apr 8th 2008 1:43PM]

is cool def a new rapper?

[Silas Miller @ Apr 8th 2008 12:48PM]

1-900 "operators" around the world are rejoicing.

[IndiaTech @ Apr 8th 2008 1:15PM]

Where is his right hand?

[Imran @ Apr 8th 2008 3:44PM]

About to meet your face for having a dirty mind.

[thethirdmoose @ Apr 8th 2008 5:29PM]

attached to his right arm

[David @ Apr 9th 2008 12:34AM]

Not unique, yet the link only shows one previous story, and it's about a phone that's really cheap and happens to have a version with Braille on the keys.

[americanPinko @ Apr 9th 2008 1:41PM]

"but there's no word just yet on whether the technology will be picked up commercially."

Umm...1794. Wouldn't this be a Morse code vibrator?