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The BrailleDoodle: Revolutionizing the lives of the blind and low vision through Braille literacy! (self.Blind)
submitted by scope6262
At TPPAT.com, we’re revolutionizing the lives of the blind and low-vision through Braille literacy and touchable art.
Our first product in development is the BrailleDoodle, an inexpensive and high quality device to help teach Braille, practice Braille and create touchable drawings. Currently, most devices for teaching Braille are expensive and/or impractical.
And, due to COVID-19, most students don’t have any way to learn or practice Braille at home. But the BrailleDoodle can overcome many of the shortcomings to products currently in use to teach Braille
What’s the impact due to the lack of Braille literacy?
—Only 32% of blind students graduate high school,
—16% graduate college
—28% live below the poverty level
We’re almost 1/3 of the way to our goal to launch but we need your help. To learn more or to see/listen to the video about this great new product, go to $1.
EVERY CONTRIBUTION HELPS....even as little as a dollar!
Thank You.
UPDATE: For some reason the IndieGogo page isn’t loading, even though I had the correct link. It kept defaulting to Tilda...maybe it’s Reddit, I don’t know?
I’ve inserted the link to the TPPAT home page which can link you to the IndieGogo as well as provide additional information. Thanks to all for bringing this to my attention. I can always count on Redditors!
Let me know if there are any other issues.
Our first product in development is the BrailleDoodle, an inexpensive and high quality device to help teach Braille, practice Braille and create touchable drawings. Currently, most devices for teaching Braille are expensive and/or impractical.
And, due to COVID-19, most students don’t have any way to learn or practice Braille at home. But the BrailleDoodle can overcome many of the shortcomings to products currently in use to teach Braille
What’s the impact due to the lack of Braille literacy?
—Only 32% of blind students graduate high school,
—16% graduate college
—28% live below the poverty level
We’re almost 1/3 of the way to our goal to launch but we need your help. To learn more or to see/listen to the video about this great new product, go to $1.
EVERY CONTRIBUTION HELPS....even as little as a dollar!
Thank You.
UPDATE: For some reason the IndieGogo page isn’t loading, even though I had the correct link. It kept defaulting to Tilda...maybe it’s Reddit, I don’t know?
I’ve inserted the link to the TPPAT home page which can link you to the IndieGogo as well as provide additional information. Thanks to all for bringing this to my attention. I can always count on Redditors!
Let me know if there are any other issues.
KillerLag 4 points 2y ago
Interesting system. It's very similar to the system some children use to trace letters when learning how to write.
What is the expected cost of the device?
Off Amazon, this Magnatab is essentially the same thing without the braille cell overlay, and costs about $23 Canadian. I can replicate the braille cell effect by using fabric paint to glue over a few columns/rows. Would the cost be significantly higher than that?
https://www.amazon.ca/Kid-Free-form-Magnatab-Red/dp/B004PR49EM/ref=pd_lpo_75_img_2/140-0623984-5742827?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B004PR49EM&pd_rd_r=72840f77-659a-43d9-833c-a681c840ad32&pd_rd_w=4y9No&pd_rd_wg=cmlwJ&pf_rd_p=256a14b6-93bc-4bcd-9f68-aea60d2878b9&pf_rd_r=3QCWBRE4MBWZ49CZ1VE3&psc=1&refRID=3QCWBRE4MBWZ49CZ1VE3
When people first start learning Braille, they often push harder than average (it's called scrubbing) and it wears out (the older paper) beginners Braille textbooks faster. Is the tolerances tighter to hold on better than the over-the-counter boards?
What is the expected cost of the device?
Off Amazon, this Magnatab is essentially the same thing without the braille cell overlay, and costs about $23 Canadian. I can replicate the braille cell effect by using fabric paint to glue over a few columns/rows. Would the cost be significantly higher than that?
https://www.amazon.ca/Kid-Free-form-Magnatab-Red/dp/B004PR49EM/ref=pd_lpo_75_img_2/140-0623984-5742827?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B004PR49EM&pd_rd_r=72840f77-659a-43d9-833c-a681c840ad32&pd_rd_w=4y9No&pd_rd_wg=cmlwJ&pf_rd_p=256a14b6-93bc-4bcd-9f68-aea60d2878b9&pf_rd_r=3QCWBRE4MBWZ49CZ1VE3&psc=1&refRID=3QCWBRE4MBWZ49CZ1VE3
When people first start learning Braille, they often push harder than average (it's called scrubbing) and it wears out (the older paper) beginners Braille textbooks faster. Is the tolerances tighter to hold on better than the over-the-counter boards?
tysonedwards 2 points 2y ago
It seems unusual that the posted prototype video in their indiegogo EXACTLY matches the product you found on Amazon.
https://i.imgur.com/TIiqtcD.jpg
OP, care to explain?
https://i.imgur.com/TIiqtcD.jpg
OP, care to explain?
scope6262 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Hey KillerLag. The cost is still being finalized but I would expect it to be somewhere between $50-$70. The difference from the Magnatab is in the internal design. The Magnatab doesn’t hold the metal balls very well where the BD uses springs to increase the tolerances and hold the balls in place. That’s been the complaint we’ve heard and are working by to address this issue to make a better product. As you said, early learners have a heavy touch. I believe the Braille cell will be included with the BD.
tysonedwards 1 points 2y ago
They were trying to charge $300 USD in early 2018... hopefully something’s changed, if real. Still, it’s odd that they still only have 3d renders when a real competitor exists looking shockingly similar.
scope6262 [OP] 0 points 2y ago
Hey Kahlani. Can you tell the difference between an Oreo and a knockoff? What about a Louis Vuitton bag? Others may look the same but the difference is in the internals and in the performance.
We expect to charge between $50-$70 per unit at this time and maintaining a high quality level for the product.
This is our first round of funding so the goal is to finish the product specs and go from there.
We expect to charge between $50-$70 per unit at this time and maintaining a high quality level for the product.
This is our first round of funding so the goal is to finish the product specs and go from there.
tysonedwards 2 points 2y ago
So, you’re saying they’re a knock off of you despite beating you to market by 7 years in its current embodiment, or the patent office by 31 years?
You say your patent is pending, and “the founder” claims his patent was pending since 2017. What’s different, or to use the proper vernacular novel in your design? After all, a patent is for a specific embodiment of a novel design, apparatus, or process. That you’re needing to “finish designing”, it sounds as though you’re implying the new design is a new embodiment and as such would not qualify for priority protection to the earlier filing, even if you did design in such a way that would allow for a continuation in part.
Note: I am a legally blind engineer with a dozen patents in pattern recognition, data classification, computational audio, and source separation.
I am even building my own custom multi-line touch sensitive braille display as a hobby as no one else has brought what I want to market.
I want to believe you, I am trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. I am in the target market for your proposed products! I even offered some guidance to overcome limitations of previous / competing designs.
Sell me on this being a real thing, and why you think it will succeed this time where your 2018 attempt failed, and not a ploy to get the inspiration porn loving public to open their wallets.
You say your patent is pending, and “the founder” claims his patent was pending since 2017. What’s different, or to use the proper vernacular novel in your design? After all, a patent is for a specific embodiment of a novel design, apparatus, or process. That you’re needing to “finish designing”, it sounds as though you’re implying the new design is a new embodiment and as such would not qualify for priority protection to the earlier filing, even if you did design in such a way that would allow for a continuation in part.
Note: I am a legally blind engineer with a dozen patents in pattern recognition, data classification, computational audio, and source separation.
I am even building my own custom multi-line touch sensitive braille display as a hobby as no one else has brought what I want to market.
I want to believe you, I am trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. I am in the target market for your proposed products! I even offered some guidance to overcome limitations of previous / competing designs.
Sell me on this being a real thing, and why you think it will succeed this time where your 2018 attempt failed, and not a ploy to get the inspiration porn loving public to open their wallets.
scope6262 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
You ask good questions. Let me see what I can set up. Personally, I’m more of the guy behind financing and business process. Going to forward your comments.
tysonedwards 3 points 2y ago
As an Art Teacher, Author, and Commercial Real Estate Broker, why do you think you can create technology devices that are: "Featuring 3D cameras with immense possibilities", "The ability to offer BOTH braille and color tactile graphics", "GPS Navigation and Maps", "Many features, like those of an iPad or Android Tablet".
Do you have any engineers on staff with the ability to create said products?
Finally, why does your Indiegogo campaign not offer said products instead of T-Shirt, Coins, Signed Books, and your heartfelt thanks?
Do you have any engineers on staff with the ability to create said products?
Finally, why does your Indiegogo campaign not offer said products instead of T-Shirt, Coins, Signed Books, and your heartfelt thanks?
scope6262 [OP] -1 points 2y ago
Hey Kalani, thanks for your questions. I appreciate you checking out our webpage also.
We can’t offer the product as a giveaway because we are in startup mode. The BrailleDoodle is the first of several products we are planning and we’re working with Boston Engineering to develop the BrailleDoodle first.
Currently BE is our engineering staff, and the BrailleDoodle is a much simpler technology to get this project off the ground. The goal is to start with this product and go from there. All the points you mentioned are ideas at this point, for later possible inclusion as we move to the TouchPadPro.
Even the BrailleDoodle is a significant advancement in a better way to teach Braille.
Reach out to me here if you have any additional questions. I’m part of the Board of Advisors.
We can’t offer the product as a giveaway because we are in startup mode. The BrailleDoodle is the first of several products we are planning and we’re working with Boston Engineering to develop the BrailleDoodle first.
Currently BE is our engineering staff, and the BrailleDoodle is a much simpler technology to get this project off the ground. The goal is to start with this product and go from there. All the points you mentioned are ideas at this point, for later possible inclusion as we move to the TouchPadPro.
Even the BrailleDoodle is a significant advancement in a better way to teach Braille.
Reach out to me here if you have any additional questions. I’m part of the Board of Advisors.
tysonedwards 5 points 2y ago
What makes the BrailleDoodle a "significant advancement in a better way to teach Braille"?
It appears from your 3D animated video, the product uses ball bearings, a magnetic upper housing to hold the bearing in place, and the pen with another magnet to lift the magnet to make contact with the upper casing.
If that is a correct interpretation, as magnets tend to be attracted, how do you propose to provide accuracy to the user attempting to raise the bearings, as opposed to the pen wanting to move on it's own?
How do you intend to counter the issues of magnetic polarity causing some of the bearings to be repelled when clumped?
Where each dot within a cell is roughly the size of the pad of a person's finger, why would this configuration be "easier" for a person to learn despite being grossly different to every other interaction they will have with braille throughout the rest of their lives?
Finally, does this item - even in a prototype stage - exist, even in a proof of concept state?
It appears from your 3D animated video, the product uses ball bearings, a magnetic upper housing to hold the bearing in place, and the pen with another magnet to lift the magnet to make contact with the upper casing.
If that is a correct interpretation, as magnets tend to be attracted, how do you propose to provide accuracy to the user attempting to raise the bearings, as opposed to the pen wanting to move on it's own?
How do you intend to counter the issues of magnetic polarity causing some of the bearings to be repelled when clumped?
Where each dot within a cell is roughly the size of the pad of a person's finger, why would this configuration be "easier" for a person to learn despite being grossly different to every other interaction they will have with braille throughout the rest of their lives?
Finally, does this item - even in a prototype stage - exist, even in a proof of concept state?
ryan516 3 points 2y ago
I think your link is broken or something, all it’s pulling up is a link to Tilda
MostlyBlindGamer 2 points 2y ago
Confirmed.
I was actually curious.
I was actually curious.
Riyeko 2 points 2y ago
I cant get anything pulled up and something like this would be wonderful for my beat friend whos blind.
MostlyBlindGamer 1 points 2y ago
The new link works.
scope6262 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
See other comments. $1
scope6262 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Just updated the link. You can click it or go directly to $1
MostlyBlindGamer 6 points 2y ago
Your website is mostly white with light and narrow type. Or white type on a messy light background image. Text and graphics pop in from the sides and swirl around the screen. There's a graph that's hard to read and invisible to VoiceOver. The site barely loads on mobile.
Oh yes, it has a high contrast mode and a font size toggle. Do you know how I found out about those? I happened by them with the screen reader. They're white on light blue. It's like you had an Exit sign on a post-it under the door.
Are you kidding me? *Really? This is what you come up with in your glorious humanitarian battle to help the poor disadvantaged blind and visually impaired people of the world? You send them to a website they can't use properly?*
The funny thing is basic HTML is very easy and cheap to write and accessible by default.
Oh, and I actually showed your site to a sighted designer who first said "That looks horrible" and then exclaimed in shock "Did I just read 'Braille?' Is this for blind people?"
I'm not making a donation, but those are my two cents. I hope it helps.
Oh yes, it has a high contrast mode and a font size toggle. Do you know how I found out about those? I happened by them with the screen reader. They're white on light blue. It's like you had an Exit sign on a post-it under the door.
Are you kidding me? *Really? This is what you come up with in your glorious humanitarian battle to help the poor disadvantaged blind and visually impaired people of the world? You send them to a website they can't use properly?*
The funny thing is basic HTML is very easy and cheap to write and accessible by default.
Oh, and I actually showed your site to a sighted designer who first said "That looks horrible" and then exclaimed in shock "Did I just read 'Braille?' Is this for blind people?"
I'm not making a donation, but those are my two cents. I hope it helps.
tysonedwards 3 points 2y ago
They couldn't be more user hostile if they tried!
scope6262 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Hey MBG, I appreciate your input. I’m going to share it with the founder and see what changes we can make.
I’ll let you know his response.
I’ll let you know his response.
scope6262 [OP] 0 points 2y ago
Thank you!! Try the new link in the post or just go to $1
bradley22 2 points 2y ago
How does this device teach people braille?
scope6262 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Technically it assists in the teaching of Braille as a learning tool. Users can practice what they are shown.
bradley22 1 points 2y ago
As others have said in my thread, how?
You mention how this is going to help the blind but don't mention what this thing is.
I've also been over your site with voiceover using IOS and it's a lot of links to blog like posts and interviews but as far as I could tell, it doesn't mention what exactly this device is?
If there's going to be a sleave involved, I'm assuming it's some kind of glove? how heavy is it for the user?
I'm not trying to be negative hear but it sounds to me like you've not done much research when it comes to asking blind people what they want out of a device.
I'm not sure if it still exists but german film was a thing back when I was in school, I don't think they call it that anymore but it was paper with a rubber mat where you could tdraw, is your braille doodle like that? as doodleing usually means a form of drawing, right?
You mention how this is going to help the blind but don't mention what this thing is.
I've also been over your site with voiceover using IOS and it's a lot of links to blog like posts and interviews but as far as I could tell, it doesn't mention what exactly this device is?
If there's going to be a sleave involved, I'm assuming it's some kind of glove? how heavy is it for the user?
I'm not trying to be negative hear but it sounds to me like you've not done much research when it comes to asking blind people what they want out of a device.
I'm not sure if it still exists but german film was a thing back when I was in school, I don't think they call it that anymore but it was paper with a rubber mat where you could tdraw, is your braille doodle like that? as doodleing usually means a form of drawing, right?
tysonedwards 1 points 2y ago
How? You keep saying this is better. Is this something another person is expected to populate and oversee learning?
Why not have a design more respective of a normal sized braille cell so learners can develop muscle memory?
Why not have a design more respective of a normal sized braille cell so learners can develop muscle memory?
scope6262 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
There are normal sized Braille cells in the sleeve that goes over the BrailleDoodle. The user has the option to work within cells or use the open board to work outside the cells.
I would consider it a better product if it provides for a better user experience.
I would consider it a better product if it provides for a better user experience.
tysonedwards 1 points 2y ago
There are normal shaped braille cells, but they absolutely are not normal sized.
That’s aside from your sleeves which are Nemeth 6-dot configuration from 1935 rather than Gardner–Salinas 8-dot which was adopted as the international standard under ISO 11548-1 in 1995.
The Library of Congress Specification 800, Section 3.2 states:
3.2.1 The nominal height of braille dots shall be 0.019 inches [0.48 mm] and shall be uniform within any given transcription.
3.2.2 The nominal base diameter of braille dots shall be 0.057 inches [1.44 mm].
3.2.3 Cell spacing of dots shall conform to the following:
3.2.3.1 The nominal distance from center to center of adjacent dots (horizontally or vertically, but not diagonally) in the same cell shall be 0.092 inches [2.340 mm].
3.2.3.2 The nominal distance from center to center of corresponding dots in adjacent cells shall be 0.245 inches [6.2 mm].
3.2.4 The nominal line spacing of braille cells from center to center of nearest corresponding dots in adjacent lines shall be 0.400 inches [1.000 cm].
That’s aside from your sleeves which are Nemeth 6-dot configuration from 1935 rather than Gardner–Salinas 8-dot which was adopted as the international standard under ISO 11548-1 in 1995.
The Library of Congress Specification 800, Section 3.2 states:
3.2.1 The nominal height of braille dots shall be 0.019 inches [0.48 mm] and shall be uniform within any given transcription.
3.2.2 The nominal base diameter of braille dots shall be 0.057 inches [1.44 mm].
3.2.3 Cell spacing of dots shall conform to the following:
3.2.3.1 The nominal distance from center to center of adjacent dots (horizontally or vertically, but not diagonally) in the same cell shall be 0.092 inches [2.340 mm].
3.2.3.2 The nominal distance from center to center of corresponding dots in adjacent cells shall be 0.245 inches [6.2 mm].
3.2.4 The nominal line spacing of braille cells from center to center of nearest corresponding dots in adjacent lines shall be 0.400 inches [1.000 cm].
bradley22 1 points 2y ago
having taken a quick look at your site, I don't know if this is an accessibility thing but I don't like how your text about the braille doodle is all in headings. For a screen reader we hear, heading level 5, braille doodle text, heading level 5, more text, heading level 5, even more text.
on your braille doodle page there's a couple of spelling errors.
1. EMployment, it should be employment.
2. The BrailleDoodle will also a cover with dozens of evenly spaced rectangular cut outs.
It should be, The BrailleDoodle will also havea cover with dozens of evenly spaced rectangular cut outs.
I press enter on both play video buttons and there's no audio.
on your braille doodle page there's a couple of spelling errors.
1. EMployment, it should be employment.
2. The BrailleDoodle will also a cover with dozens of evenly spaced rectangular cut outs.
It should be, The BrailleDoodle will also havea cover with dozens of evenly spaced rectangular cut outs.
I press enter on both play video buttons and there's no audio.
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