WearaBraille, a virtual wireless Braille keyboard, with an iPhone and VoiceOver.

Abstract: Video shows one of the developers using a prototype of WearaBraille which is a virtual Braille keyboard that provides a way of interacting with smart phones and portable devices for individuals who are blind. The prototype device functions much like a Braille keyboard, but instead of buttons for each finger to press, there are accelerometers on the back of each finger, near the knuckles. When a finger taps on a table top or other firm surface, the WearaBraille knows that the Braille dot associated with that finger is part of the current character. By tapping multiple fingers simultaneously to indicate multi-dot characters, the WearaBraille user can type text, as well as moving the cursor and performing other system control functions. The device connects to a computer or smartphone via a wireless connection, such as Bluetooth; it has been demonstrated with an iPhone, an Android smartphone, and a Windows laptop. Run time: 4 minutes 44 seconds.
Descriptor Terms: ACCESSIBILITY, ACCESSIBLE MEDIA, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY, AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS, BLIND, BRAILLE, COMPUTERS, CONTROLS, DEVICES DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TELEPHONES, TYPING.
NARIC Accession Number: O18366.  What's this?
Author(s): Miele, Joshua A.; Edwards, Owen
Project Number: H133E060001.
Publisher(s): Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center: Develop and Evaluate Technology for Low Vision, Blindness, and Multi-Sensory Loss, Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, 2318 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94115: 415/345-2000.
Publication Year: 2011.