Open braille - affordable devices for visually impaired

Affordable devices for visually impaired

OpenBraille

Contact: alex@haxlabs.com

2016 reality

— Over 285 million people in the world are visually impaired, of

whom 39 million are blind and 246 million have moderate to

severe visual impairment (WHO, 2015).

— It is predicted that without extra interventions, these numbers

will rise to 75 million blind and 200 million visually impaired by

the year 2020.

— 31% of total visually impaired are under 18 years old, 17% are 65+

— 90% of visually impaired live in developing countries.

Main devices for visually impaired

Braille display Braille communicatorReplaces laptop input/output

Price: from $1000 + laptopReplaces laptop/smartphone

Price: from $4000

Novelty devices appear each year, but text input/output and PC/laptop simulation is the most priceless experience for visually impaired.

Are these devices affordable?

Commercial purchasing

Sponsored by social funds

Cannot afford

— Less than 20% of visually impaired people own

communicators/displays, provided by social funds or

relatives/friends;

— Developing countries can’t afford expensive braille displays for

everyone.

— We should target mass-market, where visually impaired or their

relatives can buy the device themselves.

The market is here too

OpenBraille vision

We’ve created and developed products under $200 with same features.

The devices will be open-source/open-hardware, so anyone in the world will be able to modify/improve them.

OpenBraille display OpenBraille glove

OpenBraille display ver.0.2

— Braille-Perkins data input/output

— Mechanical 3d-printed Braille cells

— No expensive piezoceramics

— Open-source and open-hardware

— Net price $100

— Works with any android smartphone

— Firmware for popular apps and software

Demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v73neeVZGB0

OpenBraille glove ver.0.3

— Simple data input and output

— Users don’t need to use Braille input/output

— Input speed similar to Braille display

— Open-source and open-hardware

— Net price $50-80

— Works with any android smartphone

— Firmware for popular apps and software

Glove: Usage

+

— The glove works as Bluetooth device for smartphone.

— We use special firmware, that allows visually impaired person feel

comfortable in messaging, web browsing and daily communications.

— The firmware has API for independent developers, this helps in

creating new apps for users.

— The glove has common code for input, that can be learned in 10

minutes.

— The glove prototype was tested with positive feedback in Russia,

USA and China

OpenBraille: Economics

— With total 180M visually impaired people, OpenBraille

targets 90% of the market with focus on developing

countries.

— The retail price for braille glove and display is $150-200.

— OpenBraille will charge service payments for software

and instant support (~$50 year).

— Openbraille will collaborate with p2p giving communities

to provide special offers for poor.

OpenBraille: Roadmap

— Creating 1.0 version for Glove and Display with industrial

quality.

— Crowdfunding to promote the concepts and gather

funding.

— Partnerships to provide OpenBraille products in

developing countries.

— Creating micro fluid refreshable Braille display and

supporting RnD for low-cost tech solution

Contact: Alex Polynovalex@haxlabs.com

Join us in 2016 to revolutionize the industry!

We are looking for:

— Volunteers (developers, designers, community partners) to

help OpenBraille development;

— Direct funding to hire qualified engineers and support

creating and manufacturing OpenBraille products;

OpenBraille is self-funded at the moment and run by volunteers