It can be difficult for blind people to learn to read Braille. Because he has no way of seeing which letter the dot he feels represents. That’s where he who speaks comes in BrailleWear gloves.
The glove is being developed by ORama AI, an assistive technology startup. His co-founder, Kushagra Jain, was inspired to invent the device while volunteering at the Institute for the Blind in India. There he found that 90% of his visually impaired people could not read Braille.
The glove incorporates an electronic module that sits between your thumb and forefinger and contains a small camera and an LED light. The light obliquely illuminates the printed Braille characters, each casting a black shadow on the surrounding white paper.
The resulting high-contrast shadow pattern can be easily imaged by a camera and matched to the corresponding Braille characters by AI-based software. A synthetic voice system then verbally tells the user which character it is as they feel it. Ultimately, the idea is that users will be able to identify each character by touch, eliminating the need to wear gloves.
Orama AI
“We have been seeking and working with several industry partners to commercialize and expand our gloves,” said co-founder/president Lyon Li. We are working with the Perkins Institute for the Blind, we met with the American Print House at CES, and we are working with Perkins to continue iterative work to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of our gloves. APH to find a way.”
Li added that he expects the BrailleWear gloves to be commercially available by the end of the year with a target price of US$300.
Interestingly, Georgia Tech scientists are developing a unique Braille teaching glove that works by snapping the user’s fingers.
Source: Orama AI
