Braille Computer Displays Braille Computer Displays

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Braille Computer Displays Braille Computer Displays

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Braille Computer Displays Braille Computer Displays. Outline Outline. Problem description Customer base Competition Solution Technology Difficulties Conclusion. The Problem The Problem. Computers are very visual devices - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Braille Computer Displays Braille Computer Displays

Page 1: Braille Computer Displays Braille Computer Displays

Braille Computer Displays Braille Computer Displays

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Problem description Customer base Competition Solution Technology Difficulties Conclusion

OutlineOutline

September 21, 2009

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Computers are very visual devices

Software companies aim to please the masses, not necessarily to help the minorities

As touch devices become more and more prevalent, blind users are left behind

Current assistance software cannot keep up with the progress of major corporations’ design

The ProblemThe Problem

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Blind unemployment is on a decline*

Unemployment still at 70%**

Workplaces rely on a person’s ability to quickly use computer systems

Interactive systems are not designed for assistance software

The ProblemThe Problem

*Forbes: Blind people in the workplace**Bnet: America’s blind unemployment…

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1.3 million blind adults in United States as of 2002

93,600 blind school age children

Estimated 1.6 million blind adults by 2015 and 2.4 million by 2030

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Customer BaseCustomer Base

Data provided by: National Federation of the Blind

2002 1015 20300

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

Number of Blind People in the United States

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Vario Connect series◦ Translates typed text

and output into Braille◦ Basically a Braille

command line◦ Does not fix the

problem of interactive menus

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CompetitionCompetition

Images from: Baum Braille Displays

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Tactile Response◦ Concept for a Braille

display◦ Only exists in

drawings◦ Does not recreate

screen, only displays its own software

◦ Too small for large interactive applications

◦ Uses primitive technology

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Future CompetitionFuture Competition

Images and information from: Tactile Response

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Combination of the two technologies◦ Use the small plastic dots from the Vario devices

and place them into a larger grid using the concepts from the Tactile Response device.

◦ Three states of a dot Depressed Normal Raised

◦ Allow user to press down on any dot and have it register to the computer that an action was performed

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SolutionSolution

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Hardware◦ Device to raise and

lower a grid of dots and sense when any of them are depressed

◦ Covered with a plastic sheet to protect dots and minimize wear and tear

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Hardware TechnologyHardware Technology

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Find edges of on screen items, redisplay them as patterns of dots.

Translate text into Braille for display on the screen

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Software TechnologySoftware Technology

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Need for new hardware◦ Proof of concept is simple enough to create◦ Full sized device will be extremely difficult

Braille translators are still very primitive◦ Does not recognize special characters◦ Total of 256 Braille characters in the 8 dot system◦ Numbers and character cases are difficult to

accurately display abc = abc ABC = abc 123 = 123

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DifficultiesDifficulties

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Computers are increasingly difficult for blind users to utilize

Visual GUIs designed around a user’s ability to see are getting more and more complicated to the point that accessibility software can no longer keep up

We need a device that will translate visuals into a physical form that blind people can feel and interact with the same way we do with a screen

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SummarySummary

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QuestionsQuestions

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