TechSight

What it does

An interactive Filipino Braille tutor that empowers visually impaired learners with tactile-audio feedback. With a 10-cell display, Ñ support, and web app integration for teachers, it makes Braille learning engaging, accessible, and monitored.

Your inspiration

Driven by the lack of effective Braille tools in the Philippines — where few blind students achieve proficiency — the team sought to address outdated, passive methods like stylus punching and Braille paper. Interviews with educators at the Philippine National School for the Blind highlighted the need for interactive, real-time feedback. Motivated by these challenges and backed by research on inclusive design, the team developed a solution tailored to Filipino learners’ linguistic needs. The goal: to make Braille education more engaging, accessible, and aligned with modern learning standards.

How it works

The system operates through a tactile and auditory interface controlled by a Raspberry Pi 5 and Arduino Mega. Students input Braille characters by pressing buttons that trigger a 10-cell Braille display, and the device instantly responds with audio cues and tactile feedback indicating whether the input is correct. Teachers use a connected web platform to send lessons and assessments, which the device processes and presents. The system logs all student interactions, tracks progress in real-time, and stores data in a Firebase NoSQL database. Feedback is delivered through servo-controlled Braille dots and speakers, ensuring an immersive and accessible learning experience without requiring internet for local functions.

Design process

Following the engineering design process, the team began by identifying the specific challenges faced by their client, the Philippine National School for the Blind. After conducting interviews and reviewing related research, they brainstormed multiple design alternatives and evaluated each based on sustainability, safety, durability, response time, and cost. Trade-off analyses determined the optimal choice — a mechanical tactile-based system. This design was then prototyped, incorporating 3D-printed components and a custom GUI. Multiple iterations and rigorous testing followed to refine accuracy and usability, ensuring the final product adhered to engineering standards such as ISO 24503 and IEC 62368 for tactile safety and mechanical protection.

How it is different

Unlike traditional Braille education tools that rely on manual stylus and paper, this system introduces real-time corrective feedback, software integration, and personalised learning through a gamified interface. While previous methods offer static learning experiences, the device dynamically responds to student input with audio and tactile cues, significantly enhancing engagement. The device also uniquely supports Filipino Braille, including specific contractions and the Ñ character. Moreover, it integrates with a web-based system for remote lesson delivery and assessment, bridging the gap between teacher and student. Its multi-mode design (reading, writing, assessment) and scaled-up Braille cells cater to learners still developing tactile reading skills.

Future plans

Future plans include expanding support for numbers, symbols, and subjects like Math. The team aims to enhance portability, ergonomics, and multilingual features, while scaling the system for wider school use. Improvements will reduce power use, boost motor efficiency, and refine the web interface. There is also potential to integrate machine learning for adaptive instruction. Ultimately, the goal is national deployment in schools for the blind — democratising Braille education and improving literacy for visually impaired Filipino learners.

Awards

Best Design Project Overall by Judges | Best Design Project by Program Chair | 1st Place Best Design Project by Guests | 5th Place Best Design Project by Students |