Low Cost Portable Mechatronics Based Braille Writing Device for the Blind

Northeastern University
posted on 05/07/2009

The invention is a writing device designed for a blind end-user population. The proposed invention fills a need for an easy-to-use, inexpensive, portable writing device.

Suggested Uses

Writing device for the blind

Advantages

The Northeastern University device is ergonomic, highly portable, and low-cost. The device is designed to allow its users an easy and simple writing experience. The device does not require special paper, and is able to function with a standard paper. Additional advantages of this device include:

• Easy to use
• Easy to learn
• Increased speed of note taking
• No mirroring process necessary
• No slate or hand guidance needed
• Portable
• Inexpensive
• Less labor-intensive

Innovation Details

Detailed Description

The invention is a writing device designed for a blind end-user population. The device allows users to retain, organize and retrieve information, take notes, and write. Although certain writing devices for this specific population are already in use (i.e. the slate and stylus, “Jot a Dot”), they are difficult and inefficient to use, and pose portability challenges. Most of these devices also require the user to punch or enter in the letters in reverse, from right to left, instead of the other way around.

There are approximately 180 million blind and partially sighted people in the world, with 10 million in North America. Although there are many high-tech reading assistive tools on the market for the blind, there is a limited number of corresponding writing assistive devices available. The proposed invention fills a need for an easy-to-use, inexpensive, portable writing device.

File Number: INV-0913/US

Web site: http://www.research.neu.edu/licensing_opportuni...

Other Information:

Investigator(s)
Wei Qiao Rifat Sipahi

Contact
Anthony N. Pirri, a.pirri@neu.edu

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