Braille e-reader concept can't be far from reality

The technology's already here, we just need a venture capital firm and a determined entrepreneur to make it happen. A foursome of designers -- Seon-Keun Park, Byung-Min Woo, Sun-Hye Woo and Jin-Sun Park -- have banded together to create the above pictured concept, an e-reader for those with limited or no vision. Their Braille E-Book concept theoretically relies on electroactive polymers in order to change the surface's shape as pages are turned, and while we fully expect the battery life to suffer due to all the necessary commotion, it's definitely a start that needs to happen.

[technomania Posted Apr 20th 2009 8:58PM]

Oh and I was also thinking that some kinda like, hookup to a computer would make reading stuff off the internet way faster for the blind too. Having to sit around and listen to a computer voice slowly speak off pages is pretty lame, but if you had one of these on the desk while you were browsing the internet it'd make surfing the net a lot more enjoyable.
Hope they make it work like that too so it's not just limited to ebooks or I might have to actually attempt my crackheaded and cobbled together version.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 21st 2009 2:13PM]

My son is visually impared and this would be a great device. We are planning a family trip and for him to bring a book (like any "sighted" kid would do, would literally require us to bring another whole suitcase just for the book. A Harry Potter book comes in about 7-13 volumes, each about 2-3 inches thick. In a 2 week vacation he could read most of that. This device could fit in along side a laptop and be most convenient! Braille technology is VERY expensive (coming from someone who has to purchase it) and somewhat dated relative to other technology.

The comment above about only a small portion of blind people being able to read is somewhat misleading. Braille readers are among the top of the employable visually impared workers. Being able to read, whatever format, is an essential skill to have in the work force.

We are looking forward to many new devices in the years to come. And yes, there are compasses, GPS, and cell phones that are adapted for visually impared individuals.