Function
Braille Smartphone Case; ‘Shine’ is devised to provide more convenient usability for Braille and low vision people. The screen is compose of micro-pins which jut out to express original Smartphone screen as a black &white picture and also can send ‘click’ signal by pressing links. The right buttons on the top bar are a short key to switch whole screen to typing mode: 1st click-qwerty key board, 2nd click-Braille key board, 3rd click- original mode. The left button is On/Off switch. Four buttons on the bottom line on main screen consist of Page-Up/Down, Preview/Next. Li-ion polymer battery supply power electric power either recharge the Smartphone through connector. Devises will be connected with ‘L’ connector head and flat wire not like usual circle type. This is a device can use for both Android and i-Phone so that the blind do not need to learn both phones while have more choices for their phones as currently the blind prefer i-Phone to Android in terms of options for the blind.
Inspiration
Mobile phone is now connected to everything in our lives. However, this is not for everyone. There are people who do not belong in this beneficial world as there are no such inventions that providing particular support to them to use all functions of Smartphone although there are high demands of Smartphone from them. This is a phone that particularly designed only for the blind, however, we must know they do not want to be ‘different’, indeed, they are not. According to our primary research, we have found they would not use the particularly designed phone, however, i-Phone or Androids phone. Actually, we could find many of them are currently using Smartphone with voice support functions. Thankfully, the voice functions have helped them to start using the Smartphone, however they are facing limit of adopting full-function of Smartphone. Thus, we have decided to make the items that can help them to use 100% of Smartphone functions such as unreadable and unspeakable images or letters.
Development
They still face difficulties with unreadable symbols (Battery, Arrow), pictures, flash website and maps, which we have found throughout having several interviews with them. Thus, we decided to produce our concept product that gives solutions to these matters by enabling them to read the original screen with fingers and listen to voice supporting software. Our product ‘Shine’ is unique: 1 Unlikely other products, SHINE does not feel different as they still keep their i-Phone or Android phone. 2 Specially designed case cover carries Braille display screen made of ‘micro-pins’, enables them to enter other websites or links by giving two clicks on the display like normal Smartphone. 3 Braille keyboard function on the display screen so that the blind can type more accurately and fast as they always wait to hear the sound of alphabet with current technology. They would be able to turn on and off the function with switch key. 4 Equipped extra battery with case, which recharges the Smartphone.