Nov 30, 2024 09:37 PM
(This post was last modified: Nov 30, 2024 09:38 PM by C C.)
www.forbes.com/sites/kevinanderton/2024/11/30/14-year-old-boy-invents-digital-braille-reader-and-wins-3500/
EXCERPTS: After discovering that digital braille readers can cost up to $20,000, a 14-year-old boy named Yash Mehta has created his own version for less than $50. He is in the ninth grade and has a passion for engineering and helping others.
While visiting a school for the blind in Old Delhi, India, Mehta observed that none of the students were using digital braille readers. Priced between $2,000 and $20,000, these devices are unaffordable for most students, and they’re often prone to mechanical failures because of their complex and costly components. Rather than accept this reality, he decided to try and make an inexpensive version, and after doing extensive research and tinkering with a few prototypes, he succeeded.
[...] The device simulates braille letter patterns by using a set of six rotating motors that gently press against the user’s fingers. These motors are connected to an Arduino, an open-source electronics platform known for its user-friendly hardware and programmable software. Letter information is then input into the device, translated to braille and sent to the motors. Users can read the braille output with 86% accuracy by resting their fingers just above the motor output.
[...] Mehta achieved in his goal of creating a device that costs only about $20 to make and could be sold for around $35. However, the challenge is far from over, as he wants to make several improvements to the device, including adding an ESP32 microcontroller. Doing so would enhance the device's functionality, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and optical character recognition... (MORE - missing details)
EXCERPTS: After discovering that digital braille readers can cost up to $20,000, a 14-year-old boy named Yash Mehta has created his own version for less than $50. He is in the ninth grade and has a passion for engineering and helping others.
While visiting a school for the blind in Old Delhi, India, Mehta observed that none of the students were using digital braille readers. Priced between $2,000 and $20,000, these devices are unaffordable for most students, and they’re often prone to mechanical failures because of their complex and costly components. Rather than accept this reality, he decided to try and make an inexpensive version, and after doing extensive research and tinkering with a few prototypes, he succeeded.
[...] The device simulates braille letter patterns by using a set of six rotating motors that gently press against the user’s fingers. These motors are connected to an Arduino, an open-source electronics platform known for its user-friendly hardware and programmable software. Letter information is then input into the device, translated to braille and sent to the motors. Users can read the braille output with 86% accuracy by resting their fingers just above the motor output.
[...] Mehta achieved in his goal of creating a device that costs only about $20 to make and could be sold for around $35. However, the challenge is far from over, as he wants to make several improvements to the device, including adding an ESP32 microcontroller. Doing so would enhance the device's functionality, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and optical character recognition... (MORE - missing details)