Numerous kinds of Braille devices have been made to simplify lives for the people suffering with a visual impairment. While electronic devices still remain beyond that perfect touch of the blind – researchers and engineers led by Yosi-Bar Cohen, a scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Technology are now working on an a digital, refreshable Braille device using electroactive polymers.
The project would have electronics with actuators overlaid by an electroactive polymer film, and Braille reading pins mounted on the film. Because the EAP contracts when exposed to voltage, the Braille reading pins mounted on the film would simultaneously raise with the EAP on change of voltage, thus making using music players, smartphones and e-books rather simple for the blind. Cohen’s submitted his Braille reader for a patent, and now we await a portable and reliable full-page Braille reading device for the blind and low-vision people
Via: PopSci
