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Touchlang looks like Braille, but it can be read by your eyes or fingers. It is designed not only for visually impaired people, but for people with normal eyesight (chuwen.org)
submitted by microic
KillerLag 6 points 5y ago
Interesting idea, but a few issues.
The minimum number of dots for letters is 3, and the maximum is 6. Without using the braille with less dots, you reduce the number of possible combinations.
Also, this may be a viable option if only grade 1 braille was used, because you would only need 26 characters and some punctuation. But with grade 2 braille, you would need much more symbols. The symbol used for Z (dot 1, 4, 5, 6) corresponds to an existing grade 2 braille combo (in this case, th). Same with the letter U (dot 1, 2, 4, 6) with another combo (ed). This system wouldn't work because you would need so many more combinations.
You may think "But why do you need grade 2 braille, if all the letters are available for grade 1?". Braille cells have to be a certain size, otherwise they can't be felt. That size is larger than most average font sizes. That results in a page of printed text being significantly larger than in braille. For example, imagine the size of a standard Bible. These two pictures are what the Bible looks like printed in Braille. In grade 2, so already compressed.
http://payload224.cargocollective.com/1/0/13276/6794608/blindw.jpg
http://www.compassbraille.org/images/stories/compassbraille/braille/43volumes.jpg
Learning two different systems also doesn't help. Between 1829 to the 1930s, there was something called the War of the Dots, when different schools were working on creating competing standards for embossed codes. Helen Keller lamented that for her to have access to printed materials, she needed to learn 4 different embossed codes. Here is an article that discussed it more in detail (http://www.afb.org/warofthedots/book.asp).
The system is also missing a lot of punctuation. The number sign being used (dot 3, 5, 6) is used in Braille as a quotation mark, while the Braille number sign (dot 3, 4, 5, 6) is used in this system as the letter J.
There actually was another embossed code that was developed in the 1840s that was designed for adults who lost their vision later in life to read. The raised letters were designed so that adults who were already familiar with the shape could identify them easier, while also letting sighted people read it as well. It was called Moon Type. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_type Such material is actually still available, although not as common as Braille.
The minimum number of dots for letters is 3, and the maximum is 6. Without using the braille with less dots, you reduce the number of possible combinations.
Also, this may be a viable option if only grade 1 braille was used, because you would only need 26 characters and some punctuation. But with grade 2 braille, you would need much more symbols. The symbol used for Z (dot 1, 4, 5, 6) corresponds to an existing grade 2 braille combo (in this case, th). Same with the letter U (dot 1, 2, 4, 6) with another combo (ed). This system wouldn't work because you would need so many more combinations.
You may think "But why do you need grade 2 braille, if all the letters are available for grade 1?". Braille cells have to be a certain size, otherwise they can't be felt. That size is larger than most average font sizes. That results in a page of printed text being significantly larger than in braille. For example, imagine the size of a standard Bible. These two pictures are what the Bible looks like printed in Braille. In grade 2, so already compressed.
http://payload224.cargocollective.com/1/0/13276/6794608/blindw.jpg
http://www.compassbraille.org/images/stories/compassbraille/braille/43volumes.jpg
Learning two different systems also doesn't help. Between 1829 to the 1930s, there was something called the War of the Dots, when different schools were working on creating competing standards for embossed codes. Helen Keller lamented that for her to have access to printed materials, she needed to learn 4 different embossed codes. Here is an article that discussed it more in detail (http://www.afb.org/warofthedots/book.asp).
The system is also missing a lot of punctuation. The number sign being used (dot 3, 5, 6) is used in Braille as a quotation mark, while the Braille number sign (dot 3, 4, 5, 6) is used in this system as the letter J.
There actually was another embossed code that was developed in the 1840s that was designed for adults who lost their vision later in life to read. The raised letters were designed so that adults who were already familiar with the shape could identify them easier, while also letting sighted people read it as well. It was called Moon Type. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_type Such material is actually still available, although not as common as Braille.
microic [OP] 1 points 5y ago
People can use skin to get little but useful messages. time, commands. etc.
For example, a group of dancers can use the device to make sure their movements are identical. If they use sound, the audience will think they are not skilled.
For example, a group of dancers can use the device to make sure their movements are identical. If they use sound, the audience will think they are not skilled.
microic [OP] -1 points 5y ago
I plan to invent a new electronic device. In this way, people can read by skin. Because skin have tactual feeling too, while fingers is more sensitive.
To make this work, I need to use two electric actuators to send message to people. The two electric actuators can be controlled by microcontroller giving different tactual feelings to people.
Because skin is less sensitive than fingers, so only two or three electric actuators(not six) is suitable.
When using only two electric actuators, Braille will confuse. So I need to design Touchlang.
To make this work, I need to use two electric actuators to send message to people. The two electric actuators can be controlled by microcontroller giving different tactual feelings to people.
Because skin is less sensitive than fingers, so only two or three electric actuators(not six) is suitable.
When using only two electric actuators, Braille will confuse. So I need to design Touchlang.
sw4400 2 points 5y ago
I hate to be one of these people...
But I don't feel like this is/was designed with an honest understanding of blind peoples needs in mind.
Maybe a little market research would help.
But I don't feel like this is/was designed with an honest understanding of blind peoples needs in mind.
Maybe a little market research would help.
microic [OP] 1 points 5y ago
People can get some message from electronic device using the tactility of skin, for example, via phone vibrate.
I will do some research to test if people can get more message from electronic device using the tactility of skin(not just fingers).
I will do some research to test if people can get more message from electronic device using the tactility of skin(not just fingers).
morallyequivocal 1 points 5y ago
A lot of those characters don't look like the letters they are supposed to be representing so for people with normal eyesight (like myself) it would be like attempting to learn Braille and at which point, I might as well learn Braille with my eyes.
It would be a nifty idea if it looked a little more similar to the printed word but I think the limitations of 6 dots per cell don't allow for that. The numerical system is a very similar representation.
Also, I'd just like to point out that I rather like the font, if the lines were a little thicker in a few places it would look like Klingon.
It would be a nifty idea if it looked a little more similar to the printed word but I think the limitations of 6 dots per cell don't allow for that. The numerical system is a very similar representation.
Also, I'd just like to point out that I rather like the font, if the lines were a little thicker in a few places it would look like Klingon.
microic [OP] 1 points 5y ago
Yes, the more similar the characters look like the letters they are supposed to be, the easier to learn for people with normal eyesight.
I still need to test if people can get little message using the tactility of skin.
A watch will vibrate to give message to people, but I try to get more message using the tactility of skin.
I still need to test if people can get little message using the tactility of skin.
A watch will vibrate to give message to people, but I try to get more message using the tactility of skin.
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