Hi Angad!

Thanks for your interest in working on technology to improve the lives of people who are blind!

I love the inspiration behind your idea, but I think the project itself doesn't sound very useful.

It's true that in 1950, 50% of the U.S. blind population knew braille and now it's only 10%, but the reason isn't *only* a lack of braille education, it's also because of computers.

Prior to computers, braille was the *only* way a blind person could have independent access to printed materials.

But since the early 1980's, devices that produce synthesized speech have been commercially available, and along with that people developed *screen readers*, software that reads the computer screen to blind users.

In the 80's and 90's, screen readers cost hundreds of dollars, but now most computers, tablets, and phones come with a free screen reader built-in!

So what's happened is that over the last few decades blind people have been using computers and other technology via synthesized speech, and haven't had as much of a need for braille.

There are still some advantages to braille. Besides being silent, it also gives you spelling and punctuation. When you listen to someone reading (or when a computer reads to you), you don't learn how words are spelled or how punctuation is used correctly. Blind people who know braille are far more likely to be better at spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Finally the last issue is that braille is really hard to find. Braille books are rare, only some signs are in braille, and electronic braille displays cost thousands of dollars so most blind people can't afford one.

So the point is that a device that converts braille to speech isn't useful for a few reasons:

* Blind people can already access everything they need on a computer, they don't need braille
* It's hard to find braille anyway, there's just not much out there
* Even if there was a lot of braille, converting it to speech removes one of the biggest advantages, which is giving you the correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

I think that one of the biggest things that could help give more blind people access to braille would be to make electronic braille displays (refreshable braille displays) more powerful and less expensive. Right now most of them cost more than $2,000 and only display 20 - 80 characters at a time.

There are a few companies trying to make cheaper ones. I think there's still a lot of room for research along those lines, though!

One last idea for you: if you want more ideas of what you could do to help make life better for people who are blind, find a blind person to talk to in person. Meet them and see how they use a computer and a phone. Learn what works well for them and what's still challenging. It might surprise you. And it might give you an idea for something nobody's ever thought of.

I agree with everything dmazzoni said.

There is almost no utility or need in your project, please don't waist your time on it. The following comment is not meant to beat anyone up, it's just my thoughts about a general phenomenon that is way to, common. It seems that bright developers assume they can decide what the blind community needs without ever consulting blind people. This results in a waist of time and effort, and it is also a little insulting. I think most of us would criticize outsiders who descended upon a village and started "helping" the locals without ever asking them what they needed.

Once again, my frustration is not meant to be directed at any individual or group. My wife, who works in A T, recently helped judge a competition between dozens of college students who were creating technology to help blind people. Nearly every single offering came from a sighted persons idea of what blind people need. My wife tried to vote for the single project that she did not find totally pointless. However, most of the other judges were sighted, and they voted accordingly.

My recommendation would be for you to go back to the drawing board and ask blind people what we need. You could create a survey, and the members of this community, and many other blind people, will be happy to fill it out.

One final thought, if you find a useful project there is a good chance it will not sound super exciting or important to sighted people. Most of the things we need are not going to change the world, but they can help make ours better.

Hi there, I'm an MIT alum and current ophthalmology resident. It's already been said here by another poster but blind people that I know use other technology to read and access information beyond braille.

I think making tech that visually impaired folks already use cheaper and better might be a better and more useful use of your time. As has been mentioned talking to people who are blind about what would be most helpful and what they currently use and what they'd like would be ideal to understand how best to help.

There are a few programmers at MIT that use Braille displays to code, maybe starting asking around MIT SIPB (student information processing board) would be a good first start. Also the fraternity APO on campus works with the Boston school for the blind.

Legally blind here. I don't read Braille but do have a basic knowledge. I can only speak for myself here but even though I hardly encounter Braille in my daily life, I'm sure many here may. Thanks for what you're doing, and best of luck with the efforts. Remember that accessibility is for everyone, and be open to collaborations that present along the way. I worked for a start-up that initially had best interests in mind but ended up opting for the financial gain, and I didn't like holding people hostage by their disability. So keep transparent and keep talking to (the royal) us, and you will do great things. All the best.

Hello. I'd not recommend making this device as we, blind people, can use screen readers to read the screen and those of us who aren't that interested in braille, would not use the device in my oppinion.