An affordable, refreshable Braille tablet that relies on microfluidics

Instead of showing one line at a time, a new Braille tablet being designed at the University of Michigan can display a page of information and is significantly cheaper than the current Braille displays. Read the article: www.technology...
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Current technologies for the blind like one-line Braille displays and text-to-speech are slow and hold back literacy. By using microfluidics, researchers are able to keep the cost at around $1,000, compared to the $5,000 cost of the one-line displays.
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[@MichiganEngineering]

Update: The spinoff company, NewHaptics, is currently working to commercialize the product. innovationpartnerships.umich.edu/stories/newhaptics-works-to-commercialize-multiline-braille-and-graphical-tactile-display-nicknamed-the-holy-braille-project/

[@jamesaamoore]

any update?

[@user-zz7qm5ml8o]

I'm really excited about this! Being blind myself, I can't wait to get one of these Braille tablets. It seems like it'll be really useful.

[@sardonicsardonyx359]

May I ask, how did you type this?

[@AndrewMellor-darkphoton]

Blind people on KZbin weird

[@vincentlenart1697]

I'd think probably either dictation or... touch typing is a thing.... most of the useful bits of information on KZbin... and this video in particular are in the audio...so...

[@johannestjitumba4343]

Very exciting how do i order? I am vased in namibia.

[@paytmguru5662]

But sir why not just listen the book in audio ...why to read

[@zsoltoroszlany]

Sounds really good! I always loved these things which aimed to help anybody with some kind of disabilities.

[@purser01]

This is wonderful. Instead of having a braille book which is large and cumbersome and occupies a lot of space just image having it contained in a kindle sized tablet.

[@mikeford2779]

At around 2:00, regarding the issue of controlling 5-10K valves, you say "We have a potential solution to that problem." I am curious as to whether your solution has proven itself or if you have decided the task is too difficult and have abandon this project altogether.

[@TannerJarring]

yo

[@Clostridiumbotulinum37]

Are you guys still working on this? Also good choice on what to research. It's a problem that many people wouldn't think about or don't know exist.

[@tanchienhao]

Yeah i second that, keep me updated if u find any related projects

[@ml0203]

Yeah would like to know. Keep me updated too!

[@abdAlmajedSaleh]

top comment says they started working on it again, first month of this year

[@ml0203]

Any update so far? So interesting. I would like to know.

[@rurulinks3596]

It would be a true mechanical design that solves the problem of the blind using a tablet..... excellent design.

[@Akash-bf2vf]

What's the update of this project?

[@The_Primary_Axiom]

This is crazy. Did these Braille smart screens ever come out ?

[@placeholder5982]

I'm interested in knowing the current status of the project as I was also thinking of similar project. But thinking of going with electromagnets. So I would really like to know that, did u Guyz manage to accommodate the valve system/potential alternative in a small size package.

[@patrickshannon1111]

I was wondering about this myself.

[@animehair05silently88]

​@@patrickshannon1111if either of you are still here and interested someone named vijay varada made a sub one dollar braille cell

[@wilurbean]

I was just looking for interesting content regarding braille Found this awesome video and invention. Umich is awesome

[@5amJones69]

Okay so where's this at? Looks amazing! I hope you guys have(have had) the funding to develop this.

[@allenlark]

What's the potential solution???

[@tamimarafat8337]

I'm curious to know if this is in production yet

[@limchinchen7988]

Hi, I’m mechatronic student from Malaysia. In this coming semester, we are given a capstone project title of refreshable Braille display for tactile feedback of a screen. I have no idea how to start this project, can anyone guide me?

[@kedarravva7303]

Has it been produced on commercial scale. we are very keen to make it available in India (Non profit basis). Please let us know when it is ready.

[@matteomorando7332]

Nice project. The Braille Displays cost a lot and the cheaper ones are not very reliable. This technology could bring good results. And please, give an iPhone with VoiceOver to that guy before TalkBack drives he crazy :)

[@alexbourg4165]

This is such a hard concept for me to understand, I read text one line at a time do other people read multiple lines simultaneously?

[@Gigx]

Se han ganado mi respeto, estas cosas me parecen excelentes.

[@EthanLR]

This is the true dark mode

[@williamgichia4351]

Have alot of intrest

[@Alex-vl9yp]

Don't say you can do something if all you show is a 3D render.

[@mahmoudmonem3086]

Dude prototypes are the first real form of any product .. they can definitely do since they have the know how and they are working on doing it but they might need some time and money. At least they are trying to do something revolutionary !! What can you do beside shitting on other people on the internet ?

[@aussielass5621]

Did this ever get produced?

[@MichiganEngineering]

A spinoff company, NewHaptics, is currently working to commercialize the product. innovationpartnerships.umich.edu/stories/newhaptics-works-to-commercialize-multiline-braille-and-graphical-tactile-display-nicknamed-the-holy-braille-project/

[@crownzsplace]

I think that your idea is gonna make it, just do't forget that we've gotta write with it also. I sure hope you guys can make it less expensive, it's ashame that we as blind ppppeeeoooppple have to pay an arm and aaa leg justtt to keep uuuppp with our sighted counterparts.

[@Wediuser]

Any update

[@patrickolson7390]

Is this available for porchase?

[@RashidAliyev]

I'm one of persons who trying to make such devices - "Braille Pad"

[@TyrekeCorrea]

That sounds neat, but are you actually trying to do this or are you just messing around?

[@RoosheshMotiwallaOfficialPage]

how much does it cost?

[@AmaroqStarwind]

They didn't actually describe the microfluidics.

[@thefatmoop]

go with small solenoids...

[@miron__]

That would still be too big. The scientists in field of microfluidics are grappling with the same problem, controlling a large number of pneumatic outputs with electrical signals in as little space as possible. Work has been done on creating a pneumatic multiplexers and shift registers to control a large amount of outputs with just a few solenoids. www3.aiche.org/proceedings/content/Annual-2009/images/165260-2.jpg

[@icexiro]

you have at least to try to implement one before you throw it out the window as an idea, it's a weekend project to make 2solenoid dots and see how they perform

[@RashidAliyev]

Small solenoids are heawy if there will be huge of them...

[@brycecombs2868]

The pneumatic approach might work for a large static workstation, but it could never be portable. Further, Braille is outdated and limited. Think outside of the box if you want to move forward in this rather stagnant area.😉

[@lonzokelly9251]

Ray Charles played the piano

[@truthseekermedia]

Mind blowing

[@The_Devil_Himself]

What if it used some sort of tactile system of vibration or even different pitched sounds to let the user know what bumps their finger was going across? This is cool, but the graphic at 1:39 looks like some futuristic shape shifting 3-D liquid from the Matrix or Terminator II, and I'm no scientist, but I don't think we have that tech yet.

[@katethegoat7507]

It would just be bubbles of air or fluid under a stretchy membrane

[@AASHIKAD-o2i]

ohmygod i just now thought of the vibration system and how useful it might have been too and i was researching about this and found this video..and here u are who thought of the exact same thing

[@maxmag981]

Do it! Faça!

[@michaelsternberg7320]

Amazing if feasible

[@idancelifeml]

Хотела посмотреть электронные устройства для чтения по брайлю, оно есть одно и стоит как чертово крыло самолета. Какой кринж. Хотя механизм же максимально простой и реализовать такое ну максимально просто

[@byambajavlkhamsuren9479]

How not play ping pong