Braille Buddy

Braille Buddy
Braille learning is a necessary skill not only for the people with vision disabilities, it is a precondition for
all who are associated with the special teaching program of visually impaired. The human voice
recording technologies and synthetic speech feedback software have provided an easy access to the
information to visually impaired people but at the same time, these new advancements in technology
have presented a false alternative of Braille and discouraged people from learning this script.
We just need common sense and not complex analysis to realize the fact that there is a clear difference
between reading and writing on the one side and listening and dictation on the other. We understand
that the script is a core component of the language and replacing it with verbal alternative using bogus
arguments would result into calamitous consequences.
In the age of digital revolution and advanced learning methodologies, it is important to setup the new
paradigm of teaching and learning Braille through affordable, innovative and conversant devices and
technologies. In our mission of making assistive technology solution, we at Sugamya Foundation have
successfully designed Braille Buddy, a Braille teaching learning app for Android platform.
The Braille Buddy is the android based app for smart phones and tablets that promises effective Braille
learning for visually impaired people and others through user-friendly accessible interface, attractive
sound library, customizable options and pioneering approach. The application uses graphical layout of a
Braille cell and spacebar in the center of the screen. The graphical Braille cell and spacebar can be
identified through a position paper placed on the screen of the phone/tablet. The user can feel the
Braille dots of the position paper through touch of her finger and press it to enter the responses. The
Braille Buddy displays a print alphabet on the screen just above the Braille cell and plays a sound for that
alphabet. The user is supposed to press the dots of that alphabet. She can then press the spacebar to
check her response. The app then announces the result and moves to the next alphabet using a random
selection.
The app contains a navigation panel to change the settings. The mode option allows the user to switch
the Braille mode between reading and writing. In the reading mode, the left column responses to dot
number 1,2 and 3 and the right column corresponds to the dots 4,5 and 6 respectively. The writing
mode interchange both the column in the Braille cell that enable user to enter the responses similar to a
Braille slate.
The app provides support for Hindi and English languages and one can change the language preference
in the language option of the navigation panel. The language selection determines the sound library,
print alphabets and all rules automatically.
Children find the standard Braille cell too confusing due to the proximity of the dots and therefore
teaching these children through more spaced Braille cell is always a good choice. The app provides
small, medium and large, three sizes of a Braille cell to solve this problem. One can pic any of the size
from dot size option. It is important to note that changing the position paper for each Braille cell size is
required in case of using the app through the touch alone.

The resources option takes the user to a designated online resource center which provides information
related to Braille script, Braille chart, Braille devices, Braille software and much more. The resource page
can be updated without updating the Braille Buddy app on the device.