Pic Courtesy: sumitdagar.com
Smartphones have become a necessity for an individual with constant calls, likes, tweets, etc. But there is a section of society who has remained untouched with the smartphone frenzy. Dreaming to use technology to make the life of blind easier, this young man from Ahmedabad started developing world’s first smart phone for blind. Sumit Dagar, pass out of NID, is an interaction designer. Loaded with vision and analytical mind Sumit aims to make a difference in the life of these people.
On the working of the phone he says, The Braille phone will use a simple framework: the screen technology will use pixels to vary height, rather than colour, as on a normal smartphone. A high-resolution screen would thus be capable of conveying simple Braille text, as well as various shapes, figures and maps. Users would be able to “view” a face using the sense of touch, or follow a map to find their way home. The screen would also be touch-responsive like existing smartphones, so users could input information, make phone calls easily and comfortably undertake many daily tasks, thus transforming the lives of India’s blind people.”
The smartphone will use Shape Memory Alloy technology to sport a grid of pins which will move up and down as required. The grid is said to have a Braille display, where pins will come up with a character or a letter. The screen will also be capable of elevating and depressing the contents that forms patterns in Braille. However, the rest of the elements will be like any other smartphone.
Sumit has been awarded with prestigious Rolex Young Laureate award in December, 2012. He plans to use the award money to finance the project. Currently he and his team are working on developing a prototype in collaboration with IIT Delhi and LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad.
