Braille Reader
In 2014, I interned with Ducere Technologies to design a reading device for the blind. Many books, bills, and official documents are still only available in print, which can make it hard for the blind community to access important information. This device was created to bridge that gap by converting images of printed text into both Braille and audio outputs.
One of the most rewarding parts of the experience was working with schools for the blind and with extraordinary children whose perspectives and determination inspired me to think more deeply about inclusive education and the possibilities for learners with special needs.
This pen-shaped product can guide the user to take a picture of any printed text and process the text in the image to audio and Braille. The pen has just one Braille cell, unlike traditional refreshable Braille cell displays. This significantly reduces the cost of this product.
The user research, design of the pen form, prototyping with electronic components, user testing and developing a few principles for interaction design for the blind was done primarily by Swati Shelar and Tejas Rode, an engineer from BITS, Goa.
