Single Braille cell

• Main Authors: Schmidt, Marcelo Bernart, Gustavo, Luiz, Garcia Ramirez, Alejandro R.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accessibility; Blind; Braille; Computers; Embedded system; Hardware; Human computer interface; Piezoelectric transducers; Software; Thumb; Visualization
• ISSN: 2326-7771; 2326-7844
• DOI: 10.1109/BRC.2014.6880990

Blind people face several problems related to access information. A Braille language symbol is a technique to solve this problem. A set of points which when nerve endings felt by the finger lets to form a character. With the exponential growth in technological era, the need arose to bring the users a Braille computer. For this, electromechanical devices were created, called Braille displays, allowing users to make use of Braille on their own computers. However, access to this kind of devices is difficult, because the embedded technology turn it expensive. The current Braille displays have commonly something between 8 and 80 cells and the market trend is to rise this number. A cell is nothing more than the set of points that make up a Braille character, commonly a piezo Braille cell. Another alarming factor is the absence of specific software adapted to users' needs by using accessibility standards. In this context, this work aims to contribute to digital access of Braille, by developing an integrated solution of hardware and software. The proposed system is based on the concept of one Braille cell, since Braille reading is done character by character. In this scenario, was also developed a specific software interface which also communicates with hardware solution. The software makes use of the accessibility standards imposed by the U.S. consortium for the visually impaired, formed by large companies, such as IBM and Microsoft. The proposed system is been evaluated by blind voluntaries with different knowledge of Braille and computer experience. The preliminary results show the efficiency of the system proposed.