What it does
It solves the problems of limited Braille resources, high costs of traditional devices, and poor portability.
Your inspiration
During a volunteer activity at a school for the blind, I witnessed a student struggling to read a thick Braille textbook, while his sighted classmate effortlessly flipped through a digital e - book. This contrast made me realize the huge information gap. I was inspired by the precision of electromagnetic control technology and the principle of Braille coding. Combining these, I aimed to create a device that could "translate" digital information into tactile Braille in real - time, just like how a translator bridges language gaps.
How it works
The device consists of three core parts: ① An electromagnetic micro - actuator array (6×N units), with each actuator responding in <50ms to drive metal contacts to form Braille dots. ② A distributed control system (1 main MCU + 6 slave MCUs) that supports multi - line Braille synchronization, enabling display of complex content like formulas. ③ An adaptive binary coding protocol: Directly map ASCII for English (6 - bit encoding, 62% storage efficiency), convert Chinese to 6 - bit codes via double - spelling (75% code table compression), and layer - encode formulas (solving the problem of manual splicing in traditional Braille). When digital content is input, the system encodes and sends signals to the actuator array, which rapidly forms tactile Braille for the user to read.
Design process
Conceptualization: Based on the problem of information inequality for the visually impaired, define the goal of "real - time digital - to - Braille conversion" and sketch 10+ device forms, focusing on ergonomic curves. Technical Exploration: Test 5+ actuator solutions (piezoelectric ceramics, shape memory alloys, etc.), and finally select electromagnetic drive for its low cost and high efficiency. Develop 3 coding protocols, and determine the adaptive binary protocol through 200+ group comparisons (improving input efficiency by 50% ). Prototyping: 3D - print 5 generations of prototypes, optimize the grip curve (reducing hand fatigue by 70% ), and add micro - texture to Braille areas (increasing character recognition accuracy to 95% ). Iteration: Conduct 100+ user tests in blind schools, adjust the actuator response speed from 80ms to 50ms, and add head - tracking interaction for users with hand disabilities.
How it is different
Technical Innovation: The electromagnetic micro - actuator array is 40% cheaper and 3 times more durable than traditional piezoelectric solutions. The self - developed coding protocol compresses content volume by 75%, enabling display of complex content like mathematical formulas (impossible for traditional devices). User - Centered Design: Ergonomic arc grip (single - hand weight <300g) and multi - mode interaction (voice + gesture + head tracking) cover 90%+ visually impaired user scenarios. Social Impact: It can reduce 200,000 trees cut annually (replacing paper Braille) and is expected to increase the education penetration rate of the visually impaired by 15% (UNESCO model data), creating a more inclusive information ecosystem.
Future plans
Commercialization: Collaborate with social enterprises to launch a crowdfunding campaign in 2026, aiming to reduce the device cost to $200 (60% lower than current electronic Braille displays). Develop a subscription - based cloud Braille library, providing 10,000+ digital books. Tech Ecosystem: Open - source the core actuator control code in 2027, encouraging global developers to adapt it to different regions. Partner with UNESCO to promote it in 50+ developing countries, helping 1 million+ visually impaired people access information.
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