The Android Braille Slate

THE QUESTION THAT ARISES IS “HOW CAN A VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSON USE A TOUCH PHONE?

Modern Smartphones are now equipped with systems that can be used to create an environment in which visually impaired people can efficiently navigate and use a touch phone.

‣This Android Braille Slate system makes use of the TACTILE FEEDBACK AKA VIBRATION and the AUDIO FEEDBACK A.K.A SOUND to create a user interface that requires no visual involvement to navigate through and use efficiently.

‣In the Braille slate the screen has 6 EVENLY SPACED DOTS which represent the 6 dots of an actual Braille cell.

‣The raised dots in the Braille cell are displayed as solid white circles which vibrate when touched and inform the user of the dot number through sound.Thereby simulating a real life experience of touching a raised Braille dot

‣Dots which are not needed in a particular Braille letter are represented as circular outlines which simply inform the user about the cell number (through sound) when touched.These dots do not vibrate therefore indicating that they are not required in the particular Braille formation.

WORKING OF THE APPLICATION -

‣ON LAUNCH – The User Will Be apprised of the instructions on how to navigate through the application through sound.
A two Fingered swipe towards the left will start the application and display the first letter A
The application will then speak out the letter and a few words that begin with that letter

‣WORKING OF THE VIBRATING BRAILLE SYSTEM – When a Braille cell dot that is required in the formation of the particular letter is touched the phone will vibrate and notify the user the Cell number through sound.The user figure out which letter is being displayed by dragging his finger to feel which dots are vibrating on the touch-screen.
If a dot that is not required in the formation is touched the user will just be notified of the dot number by sound and NO VIBRATION will occur.

‣NAVIGATION THROUGH THE APP – A two finger swipe towards the left will then show the next letter
A two finger swipe towards the right will take the user to the previous letter.
A two finger swipe from the top of the screen will replay the instructions for the application.
A one finger swipe from the top of the screen will replay the name of the letter and a few words that begin with that letter

CREDITS -

We Acknowledge the work of Professor Richard Ladner and his team at The University of Washington in Vibrating Braille Technology.