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Working on a project and would like feedback (self.Blind)
submitted by reeper147
Hello all,
I am working on a device that would convert instant messages (and hopefully later other things) into braille. I am looking to release this project open source, meaning the hardware design and the software would all be released online free of charge. I have not, however, had much in the way of conversations with blind people and would love to get some feedback:
1) What is the minimum number of cells such a device would need to be useful? I know 2 would be pointlessly small, while a 100 would be too cumbersome, so what would a useful middle-ground be?
2) When building such a device, if a cell costs 50 dollars to add, what would you say in your opinion would be a good cost-to-cell value? While I am planning to release the hardware and software as open source as mentioned, I do plan to also sell my own version someday (if there is enough demand)
3) The current thought is that there would be two buttons on each side of the braille interface, the top left for cycling back a message, the bottom left for cycling back the cells, the top right for cycling forward a message, and the bottom right for cycling forward the cells. Does this make sense? Other thoughts on the user interface?
4) My original idea was a device about the size of a keyboard with the cells on it, would this be useful or impractical for your day-to-day usage? What would you consider to be a good size of such a device?
5) One of the working assumptions of this project is that people using this device would already have a means of typing messages back. Is this a good assumption? Or would integrating a method to respond to messages be useful? I am actually a bit unsure how often blind people would use a physical typing method versus a speech-to-text system.
Further, if anyone would like to give insight on the usability, necessity, use-cases, or desire for such a device, that would be greatly appreciated! Any feedback on how you would design such a device or any user interface elements you would add would also be appreciated!
Thank you all for your time!
I am working on a device that would convert instant messages (and hopefully later other things) into braille. I am looking to release this project open source, meaning the hardware design and the software would all be released online free of charge. I have not, however, had much in the way of conversations with blind people and would love to get some feedback:
1) What is the minimum number of cells such a device would need to be useful? I know 2 would be pointlessly small, while a 100 would be too cumbersome, so what would a useful middle-ground be?
2) When building such a device, if a cell costs 50 dollars to add, what would you say in your opinion would be a good cost-to-cell value? While I am planning to release the hardware and software as open source as mentioned, I do plan to also sell my own version someday (if there is enough demand)
3) The current thought is that there would be two buttons on each side of the braille interface, the top left for cycling back a message, the bottom left for cycling back the cells, the top right for cycling forward a message, and the bottom right for cycling forward the cells. Does this make sense? Other thoughts on the user interface?
4) My original idea was a device about the size of a keyboard with the cells on it, would this be useful or impractical for your day-to-day usage? What would you consider to be a good size of such a device?
5) One of the working assumptions of this project is that people using this device would already have a means of typing messages back. Is this a good assumption? Or would integrating a method to respond to messages be useful? I am actually a bit unsure how often blind people would use a physical typing method versus a speech-to-text system.
Further, if anyone would like to give insight on the usability, necessity, use-cases, or desire for such a device, that would be greatly appreciated! Any feedback on how you would design such a device or any user interface elements you would add would also be appreciated!
Thank you all for your time!
[deleted] 5 points 2y ago
[deleted]
reeper147 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Yeah except they cost high hundreds if not thousands of dollars. I am looking to release one in the low hundreds, <200 hopefully.
zapto_gamer 3 points 2y ago
Nah, I’m sorry mate, but I do agree with your good attentions to making this cheap for visually impaired users, but that is simply not possible. You are right on the price of each cell, and usually a good braille display in my opinion has 30-45 cells, and even then, that’s over $1,000. I used to have a display with 14 cells, and the device only allowed you to create folders and documents, also it could be bluetoothed to another device, actually, that sounds similar to what you want to make, and it costs $499, so I guess all cells aren’t all $50, but mate, you’ll be putting in more money into making it, then you’ll get out of selling it. Also what another user said already, they already make displays for this reason, and more. I truly get what you want to do, but I’d advise creating a different device, and even then, it probably won’t be under $450, just because of the price of the parts.
[deleted] 3 points 2y ago
[deleted]
zapto_gamer 2 points 2y ago
Sorry, forgot to mention, any device less then 20 cells sucks. We don’t get enough information, and it takes longer to read everything, so it’s not preferred.
Winnmark 2 points 2y ago
I've also thought about this, but like people are telling you, it's just not a good business idea.
What about using linear actuators?
I'm not an expert on current braille display technology, but from what I do understand, part of it being expensive is due to its mechanical nature via the piezo effect.
The actuators would have to be small, obviously, but I can't imagine that relatively reliable cheap Chinese ones would be more expensive than current standards.
The interesting thing about this is that you could control it from a SOC.
EDIT: actually remember having a conversation about this with a computer science professor of mine a while ago, with Linux and a raspberry pi, for example, you could categorize all the symbols by a matrix; the input would come via some sort of ASCII interpreter.
Pie in the sky ideas though, pun intended, but you know, fun thought experiment.
What about using linear actuators?
I'm not an expert on current braille display technology, but from what I do understand, part of it being expensive is due to its mechanical nature via the piezo effect.
The actuators would have to be small, obviously, but I can't imagine that relatively reliable cheap Chinese ones would be more expensive than current standards.
The interesting thing about this is that you could control it from a SOC.
EDIT: actually remember having a conversation about this with a computer science professor of mine a while ago, with Linux and a raspberry pi, for example, you could categorize all the symbols by a matrix; the input would come via some sort of ASCII interpreter.
Pie in the sky ideas though, pun intended, but you know, fun thought experiment.
reeper147 [OP] 4 points 2y ago
Well I am presently operating the system with an arduino uno, actually. The system interprets any valid character as a string of six 0's and 1's. the information is sent out through a 1:8 multiplexor to nand latches that act as memory, which in turn control relays that activate placeholder LEDs that would represent the state of the particular part of the cell... The problem is that even linear actuators are cheapest 2-3 dollars a piece, which considering you need 6 to a cell and a dozen cells minimum makes it pretty expensive pretty quickly.
I am currently planning out how to make my own linear actuators that are cheap, with the 3D printed cases and hand wound cabling. They don't have to be powerful, just strong enough to push up the metal core a bit.
This isn't really about a business though. As I mentioned, I plan to put my blueprints and software out to the public as open source, so anyone can make my design once the first full prototype comes out. I will probably make my own units as well to sell if there is demand, but it is more about creating a DIY solution that people can do for their loved ones who are blind and can't afford the fucking outrageously priced braille pads that exist.
I am currently planning out how to make my own linear actuators that are cheap, with the 3D printed cases and hand wound cabling. They don't have to be powerful, just strong enough to push up the metal core a bit.
This isn't really about a business though. As I mentioned, I plan to put my blueprints and software out to the public as open source, so anyone can make my design once the first full prototype comes out. I will probably make my own units as well to sell if there is demand, but it is more about creating a DIY solution that people can do for their loved ones who are blind and can't afford the fucking outrageously priced braille pads that exist.
Winnmark 1 points 2y ago
Hmmm.
Yeah I guess you're right.
Yeah I guess you're right.
Blindgamerpl 1 points 2y ago
I don’t think you can do something like that, and most people don’t use that technology
I mean Braille displays,
I mean Braille displays,
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