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@cmdrmoto@hachyderm.ioThe “industry standard” modules used in digital braille displays are custom piezoelectric devices, costing around $100 per “letter,” making such displays impractically expensive for most applications.
I just learned about this hackaday prize winner, who has designed digital, refreshable #braille modules that cost less than $1 each, using teeny-tiny magnets and 3D printed parts.
https://youtu.be/BXi1tG78AW4
#OpenSource #accessibility technologies FTW!
Full project documentation starts here: https://hackaday.io/project/191181-electromechanical-refreshable-braille-module
@cmdrmoto Did he win? Awesome! Was following his YouTube-Channel and missed the update.
Especially useful, since the Korean Dot Inc. tablet still does not seem to be publicly available, nor will they be affordable by what little information I could glean.
An affordable physical dot-matrix tech would be super useful and interesting for all sorts of applications beyond braille. I am totally exited for this!
@jakob @cmdrmoto I presume it's still just an entry, since the main site appears to still be taking submissions https://prize.supplyframe.com/
@mulad @cmdrmoto yes, it is an entry. I just think that fact is immaterial to current, warranted, dissemination.
I'm more interested if existing patents might prevent commercial application of the design. I have a hunch there migh be a conflict with the actuator design, but don't care to do the research right now and hope to be wrong about this. Even if so, sourcing parts or devising a process that scales better will still be necessary for DIY-application. Looking forward to creative solutions!
@cmdrmoto Sadly there's been many similar things like this over the years, and none of them really go anywhere, apart from the Orbit Reader from Orbit Research. I'm not sure how that works exactly but a 20 cell display is I think £400.
@KaraLG84 Huh. I wonder if the Orbit reader is using a proprietary / patented mechanism, then?
I wasn’t able to find any technical information on their website about how their device works, just that it’s “a revolution in affordability”
@cmdrmoto Yeah I believe so. I have one. It's quite slow compared to the regular piezo based ones as it refreshes each character individually. The piezo ones do the whole line at once.
@cmdrmoto Honestly I really do hope this new thing proves me wrong and something happens from it. but I've seen several such promises over the last 25 years and I just end up thinking oh not another one.
@KaraLG84 It’s hard not to get jaded. When you need tomorrow’s technology and keep getting tormented by today’s “market forces”
@cmdrmoto Absolutely,. Another thing that needs to come down is the price of Braille Embossers. They are ridiculously expensive. You're looking at £1500 or thereabouts just for a basic one.
I get that they're probably made to order, but still...
@Alexbbrown @cmdrmoto Yeah I've heard about that as well. Templates to make braille greetings cards.
@cmdrmoto @KaraLG84 I can't agree more. I'm using a 32-cell display that was made somewhere around 2005, and has a failed dot 4 in one cell. I scored it for $65 on Ebay, and I'm still happy about it. I always think how no sighted market would stand for such a state if this were monitors and not braille displays. I mean what amazing screen can you get for just $200? Anyway, I truly hope this project goes somewhere.
I can't imagine why piezoelectric components would cost so much. They are the *low end* of speaker/actuator technology, unlike magnetic coil speakers.
Piezo earbuds can be as low as $5.
Edit: I see, it's an economies of scale issue.
@cmdrmoto OMG this is the coolest thing I have ever seen.