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Handhelds for the Blind?
A not-so Anonymous Reader asks: "Is there any possible way, a blind person can READ a handheld like a simputer. I know there are text-to-voice converters, but really you can't beat reading. If you disagree with this, think about having a Physics passage or a complex sentence read out to you. I am sure it would be much more difficult to comprehend it that way then to read it. There are braille readers available, but none have been designed to be fit into a handheld device, until now. Most of them are in fact rather large. I would like to know if there are any projects that right now aim at fulfilling this void. Similarly, is there a way a blind person can input stuff into a handheld using braille input. Are there braille enabled handhelds. Is there any way a blind person can use it effectively. Do handhelds support accessibility standards?"
"I am now working at making a mall-lightweight piezoelectric display that can be used to display braille information and also take in braille input. I plan on using a transparent display that would make it possible to use the handheld fully by both a disabled and a normal person. The problem is with the piezo's. though they are light they are very very fragile, and it seems nutty to use solenoids or servos in a handheld. Major priorities are right now in miniaturizing the thing and reducing the fragility of the entire assembly . Can anybody give us some info about how we go about doing this."
There's some information here - It has a 9 key braille-entering ability, and a 32 cell braille display.
It also has voice synthesis capabilities, which would be a good idea as a backup anyway, even if a braille display is preferred.
"Why did they cancel my favorite Sci-Fi show? I downloaded ALL the episodes!"
Perfect for the blind.
Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
Try this. Just convert the cable from PC to your flavor of PDA, and write a driver. :-)
Similarly, is there a way a blind person can input stuff into a handheld using braille input.
Um, who uses "Braille input"? Most blind people type on regular keyboards that have raised Braille characters on the faces of the keys...all you need to do is get a PDA keyboard from Targus, and put Braille letter stickers on the keys. Easy peasy.