Project
| # | Title | Team Members | TA | Documents | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Braille Study Aid |
Aris Karnavas Emma Erickson Luis Aragon |
Dean Biskup | design_document1.pdf design_document2.pdf final_paper1.pdf other1.pdf presentation1.pptx proposal1.pdf |
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| # **Problem** While Braille offers complete command of written language only 10% of blind children are learning Braille. The drastic jump in employment based on Braille literacy is important as well, as 90% of Braille literate adults are employed compared to only 33% of adults who can not read Braille. However, because most seeing people cannot read or teach Braille, there is a need for more accessible Braille learning. # **Solution Overview** A Braille Study Aid will contain a database of common english words and translate each word to the Braille code in array format. Each character will be actualized by motorized pins and the reader will feel each character. While a new word is displayed, a speaker will say the currently displayed word aloud. A button will be placed to allow the student to cycle between new words once each is read. As far as hardware goes, there would need to be a mechanism to interchange the Braille symbols into the appropriate location, as well as some form of a button to detect that the reader has finished a given word. The software would need to convert a given text file and partition the words of Braille to be sent out one at a time to the hardware, as well as outputting the correct audio to the speaker. # **Solution Components** ## Braille characters -An array of pins as well as actuators to move them up and down into the appropriate characters. We are investigating both push/pull solenoids and motors as possible actuators. ## Audio system -Audio representation of current word/character shown for learning purposes. -Will contain speakers and necessary accessories to output speech. ## Microcontroller (on PCB) -Handles translation, sends signals to Braille characters and audio system components. # Criterion for Success -When the user pushes a button, translate a word from text loaded to the microcontroller into braille by raising and lowering a pin array to form the braille letters. -The audio signal will be relayed to the user based off of the requested word. |
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