New high density magnetic braille actuators: the path to a consumer full-page digital braille display - this is a small business innovation research (sbir) phase II project

The objective of this proposal is to address the digital disparity GAP experienced by the blind and visually impaired, by developing the technology that will enable the production of low cost full- page braille/tactile displays. The patent pending magnetic braille cell actuator (a taxel), developed in phase i, is the key technology that will set a new industry standard. This technology utilizes a novel actuation and latching mechanism, enabling the fabrication of a very compact, low power consumption, high performance taxel that costs five to ten times less than the current braille cell technologies. The focus of phase II is a systematic study to develop the complete actuation mechanism (the taxel unit). The taxel unit is the foundational element driving the cost and performance of all digital braille displays. The perfected taxel units will be arrayed into the perfect building block, the universal tactile building block (?block), that can be combined to build displays of all shapes and sizes. All components will be fully optimized for performance and designed for ease of production.complete, testable prototypes of the taxel unit ?block will be built. Each component will undergo testing for reliability and life cycle, as well as readability. Highly efficient electronic control circuitry will be employed to drive the digital tactile display ? Braille/uniform tactile graphics/hybrid (display). A fabrication plan for the taxel units and the ?block will be completed in preparation for production in phase III. A small multiline braille display will be fabricated and tested by qualified braille readers.phase III will take the proven ?block to full production. A variety of braille display devices including, braille calculators, hand-held braille displays (tethered to a smart phone), multi-line and full-page braille/tactile graphic displays, etc., can be manufactured by assem- bling ?b locks to the desired display size. Polymer braille, INC. (PBI) intends to release a small display early in phase III to introduce the display technology to the market, followed by a medium sized display and then a full-page display by the end of phase III.currently, digital braille devices are expensive and provide limited functionality. There are no paginated braille displays that meet the national library services for the blind and physically handicapped standards from the library of congress, and also have viable performance metrics such as speed, accuracy, and reliability. Braille literate individuals are forced to read digital content a single line at a time; imagine trying to read a spreadsheet using a simple calculator as the display. Visually impaired individuals have the fundamental need and right to have equal access to all digital content. This project addresses all three of the nidilrr outcome domains, but focuses on employment. Full-page paginated braille/tactile displays will make digital content accessible in the classroom and in the workplace.braille literacy is declining in part because IT is not recognized as offering path to the digital world, but this technology could spark a renewed interest. Our goal is to fundamentally reduce the braille literacy crisis through transformative digital braille technologies.