I built a 40 dollar portable multifunctional Braille display and navigator to replace expensive assistive tech for the blind.
Hello everyone! Over the past year and a half, I have been developing BrailleNav, a low cost handheld device designed to empower visually impaired individuals with greater independence. Think of this device as a combination of a smart cane and a braille display.
Traditional braille displays rely on expensive piezoelectric actuators that cost thousands of dollars. To fix this accessibility gap, my patent applied design replaces those high cost components with affordable brushed vibration motors. Combined with Bluetooth connectivity and built in LiDAR for precise obstacle detection with haptic feedback, BrailleNav allows users to read digital content in real time and safely navigate their surroundings for just around 40 dollars. the device can be used just like a regular braille display, and can be worn like a sling so users can walk around and "feel" their surroundings with haptics.
This project won 1st place in the technology division at my regional fair, state fair, and the national Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge, where I was honored to be one of 30 national finalists in Washington, D.C.
More importantly, I have been able to field test and refine the device based on real world feedback from visually impaired individuals and educators at the Blind Relief Association in New Delhi, India, and the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in North Carolina.
For those interested in learning more about my work, testing the unit, and more, I’ve included links below that provide detailed information about my project and its development
- FORBES (this news article interviewed me about my project)
- GENERAL (this link includes my poster board, which gives a more detailed view)
- NEWS ARTICLE (this news article from good good good synthesizes information from many sources)
For inquiries, recommendations, or additional information, please contact ymehta616@gmail.com or my Linkedin profile