TOD. An AI braille translator for visually impaired people

Gustavo Mello Castro; Isabel Real; Leonor Chicau

doi:10.48619/uxuc.v3i1.494

Gustavo Mello Castro Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon, Portugal
Isabel Real Communication Design/Interaction Design, Fine-Arts Faculty, University of Lisbon, Portugal
Leonor Chicau Communication Design/Interaction Design, Fine-Arts Faculty, University of Lisbon, Portugal

DOI: https://doi.org/10.48619/uxuc.v3i1.494

Keywords: Ai, Braille, translator, visualyimpaired

Abstract

The Tod. Project consists of a device created for visually impaired people. Its purpose is to convert written text to braille, through artificial intelligence. It’s a simple device which the user can put on the tip of their finger. Once turned on automatically, by detecting the presence of the user’s finger, it vibrates once to let know it’s ready to be used. A scan detects the text and analyses it, converting it to braille and finally a rotating device transmits the braille while mimicking the natural braille reading movement. Tod. can be charged with a wireless charger and it vibrates 3 times to warn the user if its battery is running out. It would be available in black or white and could be purchased with or without the charger in case the user already has one and doesn’t need an extra charger.
The idea behind this project would be to expand the access of information to visually impaired people, creating a device that’s inclusive and easy to work with.