Tag Archives: braille

Braille learning device uses minimalist design to facilitate seamless learning

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Most people assume that it is easy for visually impaired people to learn Braille. But according to those who are learning this system, the learning tools available are not always that intuitive and easy to use. In fact, the more cluttered a device or tool is, the harder it is as it can be overwhelming for those who are trying to learn and navigate it. Fortunately, there are product designers that want to create concepts for better designed tools that will hopefully be turned into actual products.

Designer: SAQ Design

SMARTIO EDU is a concept for a Braille Education Device that uses minimal tactile noise for both teachers and students that are trying to learn Braille. It is designed to optimize the organization of the information that is at the user’s fingertips. They used soft contours for the surfaces of the device and at the same time used tactile hints to help the user read the information through their fingertips.

The device looks like an instrument and in fact, it is, just not one that produces music. There are buttons on top for the various functions and that can serve as navigational aids. The “subtle cues” is able to tell the user the front and back of the device and also where the key interfaces are located. The device is also designed to work with a companion app that the teacher and student can easily follow and engage with.

The designers would of course have consulted with actual Braille learners to determine if this is something that could work even as it is still a concept. But we don’t see a lot of Braille learning devices in the market so if this does become an actual product, it would be a big help to the community.

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How Whac-A-Mole helped inspire the creation of a Braille-learning Device

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Shenzhen Califor Design Co., Ltd., a Chinese design firm has demonstrated its commitment to inclusivity and innovation with the introduction of a groundbreaking learning device for the blind community. This inventive product merges education with entertainment, offering a unique way to learn Braille through an engaging ‘Whac-A-Mole’ style game. Recognizing the lack of attention often given to the visually impaired, especially in today’s fast-paced information age, Shenzhen Califor has created a device that brings both enjoyment and the benefits of technology to this community.

Designer: Shenzhen Califor Design Co., Ltd

The new Braille learning device is ingeniously designed based on the six-dot arrangement rule of Braille, capable of simulating the configuration of all Braille characters. The device operates by pressing a large button at the bottom, which randomly selects letters. The six buttons on the keyboard then illuminate the corresponding Braille letters. Users complete the learning process by pressing the highlighted buttons in sequence, making Braille learning an intuitive and interactive experience.

A standout feature of this device is the use of buttons with a distinct texture on the top, enabling blind users to easily identify them by touch. Additionally, the button below features confirmation words, enhancing the practicality and user-friendliness of the device. The design incorporates larger, fingertip-sized dots, as opposed to the smaller dots found in standard Braille. This adjustment makes it easier for beginners to understand and retain the Braille alphabet, facilitating a smoother learning curve.

The device’s elongated shape, reminiscent of a handheld remote control, is both sleek and functional. Unlike a typical square design with popping dots, this device features dots on one side and a rounded edge on the other, allowing users to position it correctly with ease. Its long, flat design not only distributes weight evenly but also makes it comfortable for prolonged use. The compact and thin construction further adds to its convenience, making it ideal for extended learning sessions.

Despite its remote control-like appearance to sighted individuals, the device’s design includes a flat base, enabling blind users to place it on a table or floor for efficient use. This thoughtful design ensures that users can engage with the device comfortably and effectively.

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Electronic 3D book concept helps visually impaired kids feel the magic of fairy tales

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Reading is already a difficult task for people with visual impairments, but it’s especially challenging when it comes to material that involves a lot of visual elements. Adults might have not much of a problem visualizing those words in their minds, but children who are still developing their mental libraries will probably have a harder time. Fairy tales and fictional books with fantasy elements are examples of these highly visual materials, and simply hearing the narration or feeling the words through Braille feels rather insufficient to capture the emotions and magic of the stories. This electronic book concept tries to offer an equally magical experience that makes the objects and scenes pop out from the book, almost literally.

Designers: Subin Kim, Yujeong Shin, Seungyeon Lee

It’s pretty amazing how blind and visually impaired people can read a book while sliding their hands across seemingly random dots, almost like magic. But the text on a page doesn’t exactly show the images associated with the words, relying on your imagination to conjure up those associations mentally. Of course, that comes almost like second nature for those with normal eyesight, but the visually impaired, especially younger ones, need a bigger boost to help match words with shapes and objects.

bbook is a concept for an electronic 3D book that provides all the necessary tools for a child with visual impairments to not only make sense of but also enjoy such fantastical books. It has an audio component that reads the book out loud, with large tactile buttons that let the reader skip forward or backward as desired. There’s also a dynamic Braille “page” where dots rise and sink as the words change.

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The most interesting part of the book, however, is the fabric-like material on the opposite page. This soft material would also rise to create bumps but not as words in Braille but as actual three-dimensional objects related to the story being told. It could be Snow White’s apple, Cinderella’s glass slipper, or the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood. In addition to the educational value of this feature, it also helps make the story feel even more magical.

Every part of the 3D book was designed so that a visually impaired individual could use it without assistance. Even the charging indicators are elevating dots rather than LEDs so they can feel how much more time it needs. bbook also has a rather interesting feature where each individual story is inserted into the device like a USB stick, making each tale a memorable and magical experience.

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