Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[LG gives away 2,000 specially modified phones for the blind]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/27/lg-gives-away-2-000-specially-modified-phones-for-the-blind/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/27/lg-gives-away-2-000-specially-modified-phones-for-the-blind/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/27/lg-gives-away-2-000-specially-modified-phones-for-the-blind/#comments LG gives away 2,000 specially modified phones for the blind

Skipping on the LTE, HD IPS screen or dual-processor is usually not a recipe that will land your phone on the pages of Engadget. But, these LG-LU2700Ss are not just any unspectacular flip phone. The handset has been specially modified for use by the blind and visually impaired. The manual is printed in braille and, rather than require the constant mashing of buttons, the phone is controlled primarily through voice commands. 2,000 of the devices were given away as part of the company's donation program. Now if only they would mass produce them, LG would earn some serious cred.

LG gives away 2,000 specially modified phones for the blind originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blindbrailleLGLG-LU2700SsLU2700Ssmobilepostminivisually impairedVisuallyImpairedvoice commandvoice controlVoiceCommandVoiceControlFri, 27 Apr 2012 20:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Georgia Tech researchers turn an iPhone into a Braille writer with BrailleTouch app]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/18/georgia-tech-researchers-turn-an-iphone-into-a-braille-writer-wi/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/18/georgia-tech-researchers-turn-an-iphone-into-a-braille-writer-wi/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/18/georgia-tech-researchers-turn-an-iphone-into-a-braille-writer-wi/#comments Georgia Tech researchers turn an iPhone into a Braille writer with BrailleTouch appIt wasn't all that long ago that we saw a student turn a tablet into a Braille writer, and now some researchers from Georgia Tech have done the same thing for smaller touchscreens, too. The Yellow Jackets produced a prototype app, called BrailleTouch, that has six keys to input letters using the Braille writing system and audio to confirm each letter as it's entered. To use the app, you simply turn the phone face down, hold it in landscape mode and start typing. As you can see above, it's currently running on an iPhone, but the researchers see it as a universal eyes-free texting app for any touchscreen. Early studies with people proficient in Braille writing show that typing on BrailleTouch is six times faster than other eyes-free texting solutions -- up to 32 words per minute at 92 percent accuracy. Skeptical of such speeds? Check out the PR and video of the app in action after the break.

Continue reading Georgia Tech researchers turn an iPhone into a Braille writer with BrailleTouch app

Georgia Tech researchers turn an iPhone into a Braille writer with BrailleTouch app originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appappsbraillebraille writerbrailletouchBrailleWritereyes-freegeorgia techGeorgiaTechmobilepostcrossresearchresearchersvideoSat, 18 Feb 2012 20:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Insert Coin: A look back at ten top projects from 2011]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/31/insert-coin-a-look-back-at-ten-top-projects-from-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/31/insert-coin-a-look-back-at-ten-top-projects-from-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/31/insert-coin-a-look-back-at-ten-top-projects-from-2011/#comments #editors-choice #editors-header { padding: 0; margin: 10px 0; } #editors-choice .section { border: 5px solid #EEE; margin: 10px 0; position: relative; } #editors-choice .section:hover { border-color: #00BDF6; } #editors-choice .section a:hover { text-decoration: none; } #editors-choice .section .winner { display: block; } #editors-choice .section .winner img { display: block; float: left; margin: 0; } #editors-choice .section .winner .details { float: left; width: 410px; margin: 0 0 0 15px; } #editors-choice .section .winner .details h2 { color: #444; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: -1px; padding: 10px 0 0; } #editors-choice .section .winner .details h3 { font-size: 26px; letter-spacing: -1px; padding: 7px 0 11px; } #editors-choice .section .winner .details p { color: #222; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; } #editors-choice .section .runner-up { display: block; position: absolute; bottom: 0; right: 0; background-color: #333; padding: 3px 10px; } #editors-choice .section .runner-up strong { font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-right: 3px; color: #BBB; }

2011 has been a tremendous year for tech -- Amazon launched a $200 Android tablet, AT&T and Verizon continued their LTE expansion, Apple killed off the Mac mini's SuperDrive and Samsung introduced a well-received killer 5.3-inch smartphone. But tiny tech startups made their mark as well, proving that you don't need an enormous R&D budget to spur innovation. Still, development isn't free, and unless your social circle includes eager investors, seed money has been traditionally hard to come by.

For many of this year's indie devs, crowdfunding sites have been the answer, with Kickstarter leading the pack. We've seen an enormous variety of projects -- including a deluge of duds and plenty more semi-redundant iPhone accessories -- but a few treasures soared above the swill to be featured in our Insert Coin series, with many of those meeting their funding goals and even making their way into the hands of consumers. Now, as 2011 draws to a close, we've gone through this past year's projects to single out our top ten, and they're waiting for your consideration just past the break.

Continue reading Insert Coin: A look back at ten top projects from 2011

Insert Coin: A look back at ten top projects from 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6dotappleArduinoaudiobraillecameracamera triggercamerasCameraTriggereyezfeaturefeaturesheadphoneheadphonesinsert coinInsertCoiniphoneiphone 4Iphone4ipodipod shuffleIpodShufflekickstarterkye allumsKyeAllumslabelermobilepostcrossmousemutitouchODDIO1olloclipprostheticremoteremote controlRemoteControlrobotroboticsrobotsromoshufflesmartphonesmartphonesTeagueduinotriggertrigger traptriggersTriggerTraptwinezioneyezSat, 31 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Braille-It Labeler brings low-cost printing, 'sightless construction' to the blind]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/braille-it-labeler-brings-low-cost-printing-sightless-construc/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/braille-it-labeler-brings-low-cost-printing-sightless-construc/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/braille-it-labeler-brings-low-cost-printing-sightless-construc/#comments It's certainly not the first Braille label printer we've seen, but Ted Moallem's Braille-It Labeler does bring notably unique element to the table -- namely, "sightless construction." Presented at this year's A Better World by Design conference, this compact device allows blind or visually impaired users to print out adhesive labels in Braille, thanks to a simple six-button design that's compatible with any Braille alphabet. Made out of relatively common materials like aluminum and steel wire, the Braille-It can also be constructed by the blind themselves -- a potentially groundbreaking development for a demographic that's too often ignored by the retail sector. Moallem, a former MIT grad student, explains:

Blind people cannot depend on mainstream commercial forces to advance the cause of Braille literacy. Nearly two centuries after the invention of Braille by a blind adolescent boy, the most widely used Braille-writing tools, the slate and stylus, are quite similar to the tools used by Louis Braille himself. In the hands of the sighted, the low-cost Braille industry has stagnated.

The inventor tested his label maker at a workshop last year in Katpadi, India, where blind trainees successfully taught other visually impaired users how to create their very own Braille-It. Moallem is now looking to set up similar workshops across other locations, including Senegal, Liberia and Lebanon. The ultimate goal is to empower blind consumers to create their own low-cost and potentially life-saving tools -- particularly in developing countries, which account for an estimated 90 percent of the world's blind population. If successful, Moallem's invention and ensuing campaign could provide a remarkably simple solution for a large, yet often neglected population. We certainly wish him the best of luck. Find out more at the source link below, or check out Inhabitat's extensive coverage for more images and insight.

Braille-It Labeler brings low-cost printing, 'sightless construction' to the blind originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A Better World by DesignABetterWorldByDesignafricablindbraillebraille labelerbraille-itbraille-it labelerBraille-itLabelerBrailleLabelerconstructiondeveloping countrydeveloping worldDevelopingCountryDevelopingWorldindiainventionlabellebanonliberialow costLowCostMITmoneypricesenegalsightsightedsightless constructionSightlessConstructionTed MoallemTedMoallemvisually impairedVisuallyImpairedThu, 01 Dec 2011 17:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Student spends summer turning a tablet into a Braille writer, says mowing lawns is for chumps]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/10/student-spends-summer-turning-a-tablet-into-a-braille-writer-sa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/10/student-spends-summer-turning-a-tablet-into-a-braille-writer-sa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/10/student-spends-summer-turning-a-tablet-into-a-braille-writer-sa/#comments Lots of us spend the summer by the pool, sipping Mai Tais and working on our tans, but Adam Duran had better things to do with his vacation. Instead of engaging in such lethargy, Duran attended the Army High Performance Computing Research Center's summer course held at Stanford, where he and his mentors, Sohan Dharmaraja and Adrian Lew, developed a Braille writer app for tablets. You see, the average 8-key Braille writer is a custom laptop that costs $6,000, so given the paltry pricing on today's slates, this new solution is considerably more economical. Users place their fingertips on the display and the app populates keys underneath them, rendering tactile indicators of the keys' location unnecessary. Plus, the virtual keyboard provides a custom fit for your phalanges no matter how big or small they may be. The project has some "technical and legal hurdles to address" before it's made available to the masses, but here's hoping they can clear them soon. Video of the app in action after the break.

Continue reading Student spends summer turning a tablet into a Braille writer, says mowing lawns is for chumps

Student spends summer turning a tablet into a Braille writer, says mowing lawns is for chumps originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam duranAdamDuranadrian lewAdrianLewblindblindnessbraillebraille writerBrailleWriterresearchslatesohan dharmarajaSohanDharmarajastanfordstanford universityStanfordUniversitytabletvideoMon, 10 Oct 2011 22:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Insert Coin: 6dot Braille labeler (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/13/insert-coin-6dot-braille-labeler-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/13/insert-coin-6dot-braille-labeler-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/13/insert-coin-6dot-braille-labeler-video/#commentsIn Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.


It's difficult to imagine what life would be like without the ability to see, but "Assistive tech junkie" Karina Pikhart is working to improve at least some aspects of life without sight. Developed while she was a student at MIT, her 6dot labeler prints Braille onto standard DYMO tape using an embossing mechanism. The 6dot was named for the six dots used in the Braille system, and includes a built-in Braille keyboard for people familiar with the writing system, and the option to connect a standard QWERTY keyboard -- with characters converted in real-time, allowing the rest of us to print Braille labels as well. This incredibly practical system could literally end up being a life-saver for some blind people, who may not be able to identify pills that include only non-textured markings, for example.

Pikhart has turned to Kickstarter to fund her project, seeking $50,000 in pledges to get the Braille tape rolling. A $1,000 donation lands you one of the first available 6dot labelers, while lesser pledges will be rewarded with a variety of custom Braille souvenirs. Jump past the break to see it in action, or hit up the source link for the full scoop from 6dot.

Continue reading Insert Coin: 6dot Braille labeler (video)

Insert Coin: 6dot Braille labeler (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6dotblindbraillebraille printerBraillePrinterhouseholdinsert coinInsertCoinkickstarterlabellinglabelmakermitprinterprototypevideovisually impairedVisuallyImpairedSat, 13 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Snail concept rolls out Braille-to-speech translation]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/08/snail-concept-rolls-out-braille-to-speech-translation/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/08/snail-concept-rolls-out-braille-to-speech-translation/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/08/snail-concept-rolls-out-braille-to-speech-translation/#comments A new concept that fits nicely in the things-you-never-knew-you-wanted category is determined to make speed readers out of the visually impaired. Snail -- deceptive name aside -- uses a pressure-sensitive touch pad to read patterns in a Braille passage, then translates them to speech, speeding up the reading process and allowing users to record audio passages for later playback. The user places his / her thumb, in the obvious opening and glides the device over a line of Braille. The translated audio is then played back either through a built-in speaker or over a connected Bluetooth headset. Snail was made with the blind in mind, but considering we've always been curious about what resides in those bumpy white lines, we wouldn't mind rolling with one of these things ourselves. As is the case with so many concepts, however, there's no telling when or if this Snail will slither on to the market.

Snail concept rolls out Braille-to-speech translation originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 May 2011 01:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blindbluetoothbraillebraille readerbraille recorderbraille to speechbraille-to-speechBrailleReaderBrailleRecorderBrailleToSpeechconceptrecorderSnailtext to speechtext to voiceTextToSpeechTextToVoicevisually impairedVisuallyImpairedWonkook LeeWonkookLeeYankoYankop DesignYankopDesignSun, 08 May 2011 01:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Braille Buddy concept keyboard teaches six-dot typing]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/05/braille-buddy-concept-keyboard-teaches-six-dot-typing/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/05/braille-buddy-concept-keyboard-teaches-six-dot-typing/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/05/braille-buddy-concept-keyboard-teaches-six-dot-typing/#comments We've seen any number of gadgets designed to help the visually impaired read (and even occasionally drive), but it's not all that often peripherals come along that teach Braille in the first place. Yasaman Sheri's Braille Buddy concept is clearly the exception to that rule -- it's a six-key device that unfolds like a pearly-white Batarang and audibly speaks letters to you. Would-be learners can then feel the six-dot formation of each corresponding Braille character on the electroactive polymer screen up top, then key in the newly-learned unit of writing with the six buttons on the swinging handles below. A description at Yanko Design suggests Sheri is serious about making these available at libraries and schools, where they'll hopefully spend more time generating text than sailing through the air. Spot the device unfolded right after the break.

Continue reading Braille Buddy concept keyboard teaches six-dot typing

Braille Buddy concept keyboard teaches six-dot typing originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blindbraillebraille keyboardBrailleKeyboardconceptElectroactive Polymerelectroactive polymersElectroactivePolymerElectroactivePolymerskeyboardlearningvisually impairedvisually-impairedVisuallyImpairedYasaman SheriYasamanSheriSun, 05 Sep 2010 19:23:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone 4 plus Brailliant-32 display enables even blind men to experience the magic (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/13/iphone-4-plus-brailliant-32-display-enables-even-blind-men-to-exp/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/13/iphone-4-plus-brailliant-32-display-enables-even-blind-men-to-exp/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/13/iphone-4-plus-brailliant-32-display-enables-even-blind-men-to-exp/#commentsiPhone 4 plus Brailliant-32 display enable even blind men to experience the magic (video) The evolution of phones away from physical buttons toward touchscreens is great if you're into clean, aesthetic design. But, if you're suffering from limited vision, there are some obvious issues. Thankfully the iPhone 4 at least has support for Braille displays like those Brailliant, as kindly demonstrated by acoustic guitar virtuoso and software guru Victor Tasaran. Using the six buttons on his Brailliant-32 he's able to navigate across icons, then feel the text beneath each one -- or wait for the phone's hurried text-to-speech to read back to him. It's an encouraging solution for smartphone accessibility, but does have a rather negative impact on portability -- and, we're sad to say, on cost as well. His 32-character unit will set you back just under $4k, which is many times the cost of the phone itself. But, at least when it's used like in the video below, sitting on the table, he won't have to worry about signal issues.

Update: To be clear the text-to-speech is entirely being generated by the phone; it's a stock feature of iOS 4. The Brailliant is enabling Victor to cycle through icons, make selections, and "read" the on-screen text with his fingers.

Continue reading iPhone 4 plus Brailliant-32 display enables even blind men to experience the magic (video)

iPhone 4 plus Brailliant-32 display enables even blind men to experience the magic (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple iphone 4AppleIphone4blindblindnessbraillebrailliantbrailliant-32iphone 4Iphone4victor tsaranVictorTsaranvideovisionTue, 13 Jul 2010 09:28:00 EST<![CDATA[NC State's refreshable Braille display could revolutionize reading for the blind]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/01/nc-states-refreshable-braille-display-could-revolutionize-readi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/01/nc-states-refreshable-braille-display-could-revolutionize-readi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/01/nc-states-refreshable-braille-display-could-revolutionize-readi/#comments While many in Raleigh are wondering whatever happened to the glory days of 1983, Dr. Neil Di Spigna and company are doing far more productive things at NC State. It's no secret that the holy grail of Braille is a tactile display that could change on a whim in order to give blind viewers a way to experience richer content (and lots more of it) when reading, but not until today have we been reasonably confident that such a goal was attainable. Gurus at the university have just concocted a "hydraulic and latching mechanism" concept, vital to the creation of the full-page, refreshable Braille display system. As you may expect, the wonder of this solution is the display's ability to erect dots at the precise points, retract them, and re-erect another set when the reader scrolls through a document or presses a "link" on a website. We're told that the researchers have already presented their findings, and if all goes well, they'll have a fully functioning prototype "within a year." Here's hoping a suitable replacement to Lee Fowler is also unearthed during the same window.

NC State's refreshable Braille display could revolutionize reading for the blind originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accblindBrailledisplayElectroactive PolymerElectroactivePolymereyeeyesightncnc stateNcStatenorth carolinaNorth Carolina State UniversityNorthCarolinaNorthCarolinaStateUniversitypolymerrefreshable tactile displayRefreshableTactileDisplaysciencescreensighttactiletactile displaysTactileDisplaysThu, 01 Apr 2010 04:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Squibble portable Braille interface is clever, beautiful]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/squibble-portable-braille-interface-is-clever-beautiful/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/squibble-portable-braille-interface-is-clever-beautiful/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/squibble-portable-braille-interface-is-clever-beautiful/#comments We've been seeing some interesting devices aimed at making life easier for the blind recently, but none that have captured our attention quite like the Squibble from UK designer Andrew Mitchell. The pocketable Braille interface allows users to operate mobile phones and other technology over Bluetooth, using 779 ultrasonic motors to lift illuminated caps against a silicon cover and form Braille letters and other easy-to-understand icons. There's also audio feedback, and a grip that allows for use without having to set it down flat like other Braille readers. Pretty ingenious stuff -- and Andrew says development is "advanced," so hopefully this will go from concept to real product relatively soon.

Squibble portable Braille interface is clever, beautiful originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrew mitchellAndrewMitchellblindbraillebraille interfacebraille readerBrailleInterfaceBrailleReaderportable braille interfacePortableBrailleInterfacesquibbleMon, 07 Dec 2009 19:01:00 EST<![CDATA[BrailleNote Apex claims to be the thinnest, lightest notetaker for the blind]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/braillenote-apex-claims-to-be-the-thinnest-lightest-notetaker-f/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/braillenote-apex-claims-to-be-the-thinnest-lightest-notetaker-f/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/braillenote-apex-claims-to-be-the-thinnest-lightest-notetaker-f/#comments We don't know what it's like to be blind, but we often suffer from acute blogger's eye fatigue and would love nothing more to pound out our ramblings in a no-look manner -- if only we could read them back afterward without letting all those ultra-harsh light particles and / or waves back into our brains. Well, a Braille display and Braille keyboard obviously solves that problem, and the BrailleNote Apex from HumanWare is purportedly the thinnest and lightest notetaker for the blind yet. It runs Windows CE 6, with a decent variety of accessible software, and is targeted at serious students and professionals, with 8GB of built-in flash storage, an SD card slot, WiFi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and a trio of USB ports. No word on a price or release date, but it sounds pretty kitted out, and these things typically don't come cheap.

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BrailleNote Apex claims to be the thinnest, lightest notetaker for the blind originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apexbraillebraillenotebraillenote apexBraillenoteApexhumanwarekeyboardnotetakerFri, 13 Nov 2009 22:39:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT students develop new 6dot braille labelmaker prototype]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/26/mit-develops-new-6dot-braille-labelmaker-prototype/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/26/mit-develops-new-6dot-braille-labelmaker-prototype/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/26/mit-develops-new-6dot-braille-labelmaker-prototype/#comments A group of students at MIT have just unveiled a new prototype of a braille labelmaker / printer, the 6dot. Though not the first, the MIT group's model is apparently more advanced, easier to use, and cheaper than currently available models. Designed with the blind and visually impaired in mind, the labelmaker features an around the neck strap, and six buttons (for each of the dots of a braille character), allowing quick production of accurate labels, including contractions. The internal processor of the device can store up to 16 characters, and "prints" the characters onto adhesive label paper, which the user can then affix for easy identification of household items, such as medications, canned goods, and so on. Though it's still in prototype phase, it's possible the device could cost as little as $200 when it does hit the market.

[Via Coolest Gadgets]

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MIT students develop new 6dot braille labelmaker prototype originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 04:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6dotblindbraillebraille printerBraillePrinterhouseholdlabellinglabelmakermitprinterprototypevisually impairedVisuallyImpairedSat, 26 Sep 2009 04:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Nokia Braille Reader makes SMS tactile]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/18/video-nokia-braille-reader-makes-sms-tactile/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/18/video-nokia-braille-reader-makes-sms-tactile/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/18/video-nokia-braille-reader-makes-sms-tactile/#comments
Nokia labs is serving up a potentially helpful application for the blind and visually impaired. The beta app makes SMS messages visible through tactile feedback on a Nokia braille reader developed in partnership with Tampere University and the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired. It runs in the background and automatically opens when a new SMS is received. It's available to download and test on Nokia devices based on S60 5th Edition. Check the demonstration after the break, maybe someone you know could benefit.

Continue reading Video: Nokia Braille Reader makes SMS tactile

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Video: Nokia Braille Reader makes SMS tactile originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appbetabraillebraille readerBrailleReaderdowbloadfinnish federation of the visually impairedFinnishFederationOfTheVisuallyImpairedlabsnokianokia labsNokiaLabsreaders60s60 5ths60 5th editionS605thS605thEditionsoftwaretamperetampere universityTampereUniversityFri, 18 Sep 2009 05:56:00 EST<![CDATA[DeafBlind Communicator helps deaf / blind individuals communicate]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/08/deafblind-communicator-helps-deaf-blind-individuals-communicat/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/08/deafblind-communicator-helps-deaf-blind-individuals-communicat/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/08/deafblind-communicator-helps-deaf-blind-individuals-communicat/#commentsEvery so often, we stumble upon a new piece of technology designed to assist deaf and / or blind individuals, but we've yet to see a creation so complete as this. HumanWare, working in tandem with the Washington State Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, has concocted a DeafBlind Communicator to provide a trio of communication options to handicapped individuals: face-to-face-, TTY and SMS. The DBS system consists of two separate components -- the BrailleNote and a DB-Phone, the latter of which is a specially designed handset with a QWERTY keyboard and unique software that helps the deaf-blind community converse with bus drivers, waiters, friends, family, etc. The Braille menus enable those folks to easily strike up conversations and live life more easily, and it seems as if sales inquiries are being fielded as we speak.

[Thanks, Drew]

DeafBlind Communicator helps deaf / blind individuals communicate originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blindBrailleBraillenotedeafDeafBlindDeafBlind communicatorDeafblindCommunicatorhandicaphandicappedHumanWaremedicalMon, 08 Jun 2009 00:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Braille e-reader concept can't be far from reality]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/20/braille-e-reader-concept-cant-be-far-from-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/20/braille-e-reader-concept-cant-be-far-from-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/20/braille-e-reader-concept-cant-be-far-from-reality/#comments
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.

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Braille e-reader concept can't be far from reality originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artblindbookbrailleByung-Min Wooconceptdesigndisablede book readere readere-booke-book readerE-bookReadere-readerEAPEBookReaderEReaderhandicaphandicappedJin-Sun ParkJin-sunParkreadreadingSeon-Keun ParkSeon-keunParkSun-Hye WootextMon, 20 Apr 2009 04:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers develop braille for vibrating touchscreen devices]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/31/researchers-develop-braille-for-vibrating-touchscreen/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/31/researchers-develop-braille-for-vibrating-touchscreen/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/31/researchers-develop-braille-for-vibrating-touchscreen/#comments
In braille, a character is made up of six dots laid out on a two by three matrix -- not something that can really be conveyed using capacitive touchscreen technology. Working with a Nokia 770 Internet Tablet, researchers in Finland have developed a method for piezoelectric touchscreen devices that uses a single pulse of intense vibration to convey a raised dot, and a longer vibration made up of several weaker pulses to represent a missing dot -- spelling out letters that can be easily read by touch. It took a while for volunteers to get used to this method, but once they had they were able to read a character in as little as 1.25 seconds. Now that they have letters down, the team is moving on to words and sentences -- with an eye towards developing text-to-braille software sometime in the future.

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Researchers develop braille for vibrating touchscreen devices originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blindbrailleeyesightFinlandNokia 770Nokia770piezoelectrictouchscreenTue, 31 Mar 2009 11:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Former professor creates vibrating Braille handset]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/08/former-professor-creates-vibrating-braille-handset/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/08/former-professor-creates-vibrating-braille-handset/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/08/former-professor-creates-vibrating-braille-handset/#commentsBraille 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]

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Former professor creates vibrating Braille handset originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Braillebraille phoneBraillePhoneinventionjapanjapanesesightTsukubavibratingTue, 08 Apr 2008 10:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Former professor creates vibrating Braille handset]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/08/former-professor-creates-vibrating-braille-handset/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/08/former-professor-creates-vibrating-braille-handset/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/08/former-professor-creates-vibrating-braille-handset/#commentsBraille 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]

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Former professor creates vibrating Braille handset originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Braillebraille phoneBraillePhoneinventionjapanjapanesemobileotherssightTsukubavibratingTue, 08 Apr 2008 10:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Vmedia aside, Spice planning ultra-cheap phones, too]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/18/vmedia-aside-spice-planning-ultra-cheap-phones-too/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/18/vmedia-aside-spice-planning-ultra-cheap-phones-too/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/18/vmedia-aside-spice-planning-ultra-cheap-phones-too/#comments
We'd personally spend the extra few bucks to pick up the MOTOFONE's e-ink display, but mad love to Spice for what they're trying to do here nonetheless. The Indian carrier announced a couple other handsets in addition to its crazy Vmedia disc-playing prototype at Mobile World Congress last week, both of which will retail for under $20. "The People's Phone" (which we hope is less painful than The People's Elbow) is about as simple as they come, forgoing a display altogether in an effort to really boil it down to the basics, while The Braille Phone appears to be virtually the same thing with braille simply added to the keys. It seems unlikely that the models will find their way too far outside India proper, though they sure would make interesting backup phones, wouldn't they?

[Via textually.org]

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Vmedia aside, Spice planning ultra-cheap phones, too originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>braillebraille phoneBraillePhonegsmmobileotherspeoples phonePeoplesPhonespicethe braille phonethe peoples phoneTheBraillePhoneThePeoplesPhoneMon, 18 Feb 2008 10:43:00 EST<![CDATA[ELIA Life to roll out tactile displays for the visually impaired]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/05/elia-life-to-roll-out-tactile-displays-for-the-visually-impaired/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/05/elia-life-to-roll-out-tactile-displays-for-the-visually-impaired/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/05/elia-life-to-roll-out-tactile-displays-for-the-visually-impaired/#commentsA project that saw a prototype form some five years back is finally nearing commercialization, as ELIA Life Technology has recently been licensed to bring a tactile graphic display device and fingertip graphic reader to market. Originally developed by NIST researchers, the aforementioned screen enables individuals to feel an array of images on a reusable surface by raising around 3,600 actuator points into a certain pattern, each of which can be sent electronically to the reader. Separately, a finger-based device utilizes 100 minuscule pins that can be activated as a person scans a given surface, which enables the pins to move across one's skin as it "translates" the text / image / etc. Regrettably, a concrete release date wasn't mentioned, but judging by the looks of it, it shouldn't be long now before it's widely available to those interested.

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]

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ELIA Life to roll out tactile displays for the visually impaired originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blindBrailleELIA LifeEliaLifenisttactiletactile displayTactileDisplayMon, 05 Nov 2007 09:02:00 EST<![CDATA[OtoTenji interactive display teaches you Braille]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/26/ototenji-interactive-display-teaches-you-braille/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/26/ototenji-interactive-display-teaches-you-braille/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/26/ototenji-interactive-display-teaches-you-braille/#commentsWe've see a myriad of methods to communicate and even learn Braille, but we'll admit, most of the previous iterations lacked that sense of excitement necessary to motivate most folks to assimilate something new. Akinori Oishi's creation, however, seeks to be different, as the OtoTenji interactive machine allows users to press touch-sensitive pads and then hear back the letter / character in which they've signaled. We've no word on whether or not the machine is programmed to handle a one-on-one Braille spelling challenge, but if you're interested in just how this peculiar teaching tool actually goes about its business, be sure to click on through for a videotaped demonstration.

[Via FreshCreation]

Continue reading OtoTenji interactive display teaches you Braille

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OtoTenji interactive display teaches you Braille originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2007 03:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Akinori OishiAkinoriOishiartblindbrailledesigneducationgamejapanjapaneselearning toolLearningToolOTOTENJIsightteachingvideoThu, 26 Apr 2007 03:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Solar-powered wristwatch, necklace for the blind]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/17/solar-powered-wristwatch-necklace-for-the-blind/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/17/solar-powered-wristwatch-necklace-for-the-blind/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/17/solar-powered-wristwatch-necklace-for-the-blind/#comments While there's definitely no shortage of watches that serve a greater purpose than merely telling time, Jeonjun Cho, a sophomore at Kyungki University in Korea, has developed a timepiece that does nothing more than display the current time to the blind. His braille clock collection has both aesthetes and utilitiarians covered, as the sleek silver finish makes for a snazzy piece of 2001-esque jewelry, and the solar-powered braille ticker allows the blind to check the time without consulting their RFID-enabled robot tagalong. The necklace and watch each share the same readout, which is composed of simple "dots, lines, and planes," all basic factors of creating braille numbers. So if you've got a visually impaired pal who hasn't picked up a talking cellphone to keep him / her on schedule, these fashionable timepieces could be just the thing to keep things on track.

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Solar-powered wristwatch, necklace for the blind originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 17 Sep 2006 06:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blindbraillenecklacetimewatchwristwatchSun, 17 Sep 2006 06:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Electronics-free $10 Braille writer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/01/electronics-free-10-braille-writer/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/01/electronics-free-10-braille-writer/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/01/electronics-free-10-braille-writer/#commentsIf you've ever needed a surefire way to impress a professor, besting his estimates by 80 percent on a project is probably a safe bet. Four mechanical engineering students at The Johns Hopkins University were tasked with developing a simple tool to write in Braille for less than $50, and no electronic components could be used; their portable writing invention checked in at around $10 apiece when mass produced. Typically, computer-assisted and typewriter-style composition is quite costly and isn't very practical for, say, busy blind professionals trying to write on-the-go. Braille letters are traditionally formed by creating up to six impressions -- better known as bumps -- into sequenced cells that form words. The students' writer has six buttons with corresponding pins that can be depressed simultaneously, which makes filling in cells substantially quicker than the traditional "one bump at a time" method. The team recently presented the device to the National Federation of the Blind where board members saw a great deal of promise for the handheld tool, and although commercialization plans have yet to be envisioned, this advancement in Braille transcription is definitely an eye-opener.

[Via MedGadget]

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Electronics-free $10 Braille writer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Aug 2006 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blindBrailleBraille writerBrailleWriterelectronicswritingTue, 01 Aug 2006 18:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Braille via SMS: Samsung's Touch Messenger]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/03/braille-via-sms-samsungs-touch-messenger/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/03/braille-via-sms-samsungs-touch-messenger/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/03/braille-via-sms-samsungs-touch-messenger/#comments The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) has just announced their IDEA 2006 awards for excellence in design, and paddle-shaped phones appear to be all the rage this year -- Samsung has been tapped in the "Design Explorations" category with their oddball Touch Messenger device for the blind. Typically, SMS-capable devices for the blind have involved text to speech, which, as IDSA points out, is a bummer for privacy not to mention generally defeating the purpose of text messaging to begin with. No word on production prospects, but IDSA does mention that the Touch Messenger "gives blind users in China an affordable, user-friendly cell phone experience on par with sighted users," so it sounds like we can expect this or a similar device in the pipeline -- at least for China.

[Via Telecoms Korea]

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Braille via SMS: Samsung's Touch Messenger originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jul 2006 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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