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."