# Affordable Braille Displays David Pankhurst's 'Audrey' Gives Blind People a Low-Cost Alternative By Katherinev123 | Published 2011-12-30 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/braille-display References: [technewsdaily](http://www.technewsdaily.com/3542-kind-braille-reader.html) & [utopiamechanicus](http://www.utopiamechanicus.com/) David Pankhurst, author of the blog Utopia Mechanicus, has designed the Refreshable Braille Display, which will help the [visually impaired use their computers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/assistive24) and read content off of the Internet much more easily. According to Pankhurst, typical Braille display devices cost about $7,000 -- much too expensive for most blind people. His solution is a new device, the Refreshable Braille Display -- which he calls 'Audrey,' after his mother -- that will display computer data on a small center window. Braille letters are displayed on a small 3x2 grid underneath the user's fingers, describes TechNewsDaily. By using less materials and simplifying the design, Pankhurst has managed to design the Refreshable Braille Display so that it is [low-cost](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bigme-hibreak-s). In fact, he estimates that a 40-character display will cost only about $200 to make. Currently, Pankhurst is trying to raise $1,500 on [IndieGoGo](http://www.indiegogo.com/Open-Source-Braille-Display) to build prototypes of the device and start actual production. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.7/10 - Popularity: 24% | Activity: 20% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/gadgets) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Affordable Braille Displays:** The Refreshable Braille Display, such as 'Audrey', will provide low-cost alternatives to expensive Braille display devices and make it more accessible for visually impaired people. - **Simplified Design:** Simplifying design in the Refreshable Braille Display will help to make it low-cost and affordable. - **Open-source Hardware:** The Open-Source Braille Display devices contribute to expanding the open-source hardware trend and create opportunities for future innovation. ### Who This Affects Most - **Assistive Technology:** Refreshable Braille Display, such as 'Audrey', will provide a game changer which will improve assistive technology for visually-impaired people globally. - **Hardware and Electronics Manufacturing:** The Refreshable Braille Display will contribute to the electronics industry and help with the manufacturing of low-cost, high-quality hardware devices. - **Financial Technology (fintech):** With affordable Braille Displays, financial technology firms have an opportunity to reach a larger audience and improve financial inclusion for visually-impaired consumers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Miniature Braille Keyboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tdot-braille-keyboard.md) - [Minimal Braille Learning Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smartio-edu.md) - [Inclusive Label Printers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/braille-label-maker.md) - [Engaging Braille Education Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/braille-learning-device.md) - [Braille-Equipped Memo Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/memo-device.md) - [On-Demand Braille Label Printers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nemonic-dot.md) - [Rugged Child-Friendly Braille Readers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vembi-hexis.md) - [Impairment-Accessible Tablets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dot-pad.md) - [Braille Label Printers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nemonic-dot-printer.md)