DisEmbraille

Braille Dot Embosser That Can be Transfigured Into

Refreshable Braille Display Researcher: Natalie D. Muñez
Introduction
The ageing of technology throughout the years has made
impactful contribution in helping the blind and visually impaired
with their everyday life especially in the mode of communication.
Braille, this system of raised dots became their medium of
reading and writing. Incorporating braille and technology
produced the inventions that are widely use today: braille
printers, display, smartwatch and etc. But as it always been, one
of the constant issue is the affordability of these products, when
majority of the target recipient are below the poverty line.
Global Data & Statistics of
Blind and Visually
Impaired
By the World Health Organization
Regional
Differences
Significance
Sight plays a big factor in the life
of any individual, and the overall
quality of life. Humans rely on
their eyesight to navigate the
world, learn, conceptualize, and
gather info in their surroundings
— a portal of the brain to the
physical world
(SmartVisionLabs, 2017).
Cons of Current Braille Techs
for Poor Blind and VI
Individuals
• Expensive (Due to materials and
underlying technology applied)
• Smart-supported
• Audio-based interface (depends
on the user’s preference and
applicable to everyone
Scientific Basis for
Taking the Study
 Effectiveness of Braille Display and
Speech Synthesizer
Y., Shimomura, et al., 2010

RESULTS:

Tactile-based interface or braille materials were rated higher than

audio assistive devices.
Review of Related
Literature
What is Braille?
• Developed by Louis Braille
in 1852
• Six-pin cell of raised dots
• Code system not a language
Printing Braille
Braille printers convert DRAWBACKS TO EXISTING
BRAILLE PRINTERS:
text files into hard-copy Cost range from 2000-80000 USD
braille.
Very heavy

Only print on special thick paper

Printing cost is 5x more expensive than

traditional ink printers
Takes up more space in paper
Refreshable
Braille Display
Braille displays
provide access to
information on a
computer screen by
electronically raising
and lowering different
combinations of pins
in braille cells.
Methodology (Design)
Figure 1.
Figure 2.
Conclusion
DisEmbraille, disassembling braille embosser and
refreshable braille display; a small multifunctional
device created by a combination of cost-efficient
mechanisms. Blind and visually impaired people
will be able to write and read at the same time
with just one device. Opening up more
opportunities for them, especially in assisting
students in their learning.
References
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https://www.perkins.org/resource/overview-braille-devices/

Braille (2020).Why Braille Matters Today: Communication, Education, and

Technology.
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education-technology/

De Vera, E. & Noriega, R. (2019). DOH to look into visual health as WHO reports
growing number of people afflicted by eye problems. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved from:
https://mb.com.ph/2019/11/12/doh-to-look-into-visual-health-as-who-reports-growing-number-
of-people-afflicted-by-eye-problems

James, J (2016). The Braille Printer. Retrieved from:

https://contest.techbriefs.com/2016/entries/electronics/6986 J.D. Leventhal, B.A., M.M. Uslan,
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Statistics. Retrieved from: https://www.lasereyesurgeryhub.co.uk/data/visual-
impairment-blindness-data-statistics/

NCBI - WWW Error Blocked Diagnostic (n.d.). The Impact of Vision

Loss.Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK402367/

Robredo Jr, J.M. (2018). Philippine country Report to World Blind Union Asia
Pacific, General Assembly, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Retrieved from:
https://wbuap.org/archives/1434

Smart Vision Labs (2017). Why Vision Is the Most Important Sense Organ.
Retrieved from: https://medium.com/@SmartVisionLabs/why-vision-is-the-most-
important-sense-organ-60a2cec1c164

Senjam S.S. , Foster A. , & Bascaran C. (2021). Barriers to using assistive

technology among students with visual disability in schools for the blind in Delhi, India.
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32216556/
Schreier E.M., Levanthal D.D., & Uslan M.M. (1991). Access technology for
blind and visually impaired persons. Technology and Disability,1 (1), 19-23. Retrieved
from: https://www2.edc.org/ncip/library/vi/Schrier.htm

Velázquez, R., Arroyo, J., Boukallel, M., Giannoccaro, N. I., & Visconti, P.
(2020). Design and Implementation of a Low-Cost Printer Head for Embossing Braille
Dots on Paper. International Journal of Emerging Trends & Technology in Computer
Science. Vol. 8. pp. 6183–6190. Retrieved from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344694932_Design_and_Implementation_of_
a_Low-Cost_Printer_Head_for_Embossing_Braille_Dots_on_Paper

WHO (2022). Blindness and vision impairment. Retrieved from:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment