India-based startup Kriyate has created a brilliant Braille phone that will enable visually impaired people to enjoy the benefits of smartphones. The chief innovator behind the product, Sumit Dagar, developed the smartphone with the help of the Indian Institutes of Technology in New Delhi and the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad.
While most solutions for visually impaired cellphone users require voice commands and auditory or tactile cues like beeps and vibrations, Kriyate's Braille phone uses pins that users can touch to 'read' words and letters. The smartphone, which will sell for about $184, also makes sounds and vibrates.
The World Health Organization estimates that there are around 39 million blind and 246 semi-visually impaired people in the world. This ingenious invention could go a long way towards letting these people enjoy the benefits of using a smartphone.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Braille Smartphones
- The Braille smartphone trend can be useful for developing Braille devices for other applications such as smartwatches, tablets or laptops.
- Assistive Technology
- Assistive technology trends are being established for people with disabilities to enhance their access and use of technology.
- Inclusive Design
- The Inclusive Design trend provides the opportunity for developers to design applications and gadgets that cater to the needs of all users regardless of disabilities.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Health and Wellness
- The health industry can explore the Braille phone trend to design more innovative solutions for other disabilities and illnesses.
- Telecommunications
- The telecom industry can use this trend to design more seamless communication experiences for individuals with disabilities.
- Education
- The education industry can use the Braille phone trend to create more accessible educational materials for visually impaired individuals.
