BrailleTooth -- Bluetooth Braille Keyboard

thingiverse

Hello Everyone, I've been working on the project for quite a while now. I didn't share it on Thingiverse because I've been prototyping it - but with this challenge for assistive technology coming up, it's perfect timing! This idea was born when my friend and I competed in a 3D Printathon at Brandeis University outside Boston, Massachusetts. It was a 24-hour event where we had to create something using 3D printing that could help social justice. We didn't quite finish within the 24 hours, but we still managed to come in second! The actual development took me most of my summer break to complete. Now, I've posted my phone cases here, but you won't find any code or electronic components on this site... If you take a look at my profile and designs, you'll notice that I'm quite open about free sharing and open-source products - and that's exactly what BrailleTooth will be! However, I spent a significant amount of money developing this project, which has put me in debt. To get everything just right, I've been working on it almost single-handedly all summer. Currently, I'm conducting beta tests at a local school for the blind, and their students love it! As an engineer rather than a businessman - let alone a horrible capitalist! I really want to see this product hit the market... So, I'll be launching a Kickstarter soon to help me achieve my goal! My plan is to make BrailleTooth a non-profit organization that not only sells but also shares accessibility products. Once we can produce these items on a large scale, all of our designs, code, and board schematics will become completely open-source. I envision this being a community-driven project where prints can be made without supports, using single extrusion, on any capable FDM/FFF printer like Makerbot, Ultimaker, or RepRap. If you'd like to stay up-to-date with BrailleTooth's development and Kickstarter campaign, check out the page: http://www.facebook.com/BrailleTooth And as a bonus, I own the Brailletooth.com domain - just need to find some time to get that website built! Our Mission: At BrailleTooth, we aim to develop innovative accessibility products for the blind and visually impaired. Currently, we're working on creating Braille Bluetooth Keyboards that can either be integrated into phone cases for both Android and Apple smartphones or function as a standalone wallet-sized keyboard connected to any Bluetooth-enabled device like tablets, phones, or computers. As mobile devices become increasingly powerful tools for the blind community, features such as screen readers and image description technologies are allowing users to navigate their digital world with greater ease. But even with these advancements, there's still room for improvement... That's where BrailleTooth comes in - a game-changing solution that empowers the blind community by providing fast and convenient typing options. Our alternative is a refreshable Brailler: an expensive and bulky device not suitable for everyday use. The same applies to virtual keyboards with virtual buttons and then copying text into the original app, which can be frustratingly slow... We're addressing this issue with BrailleTooth - a revolutionary phone case that combines a physical Braille keyboard with a Bluetooth connection for seamless interaction. The Problem We Solve: Our product simplifies accessibility for those who are blind or visually impaired. By providing a tactile Braille keyboard on the back of the case, users can type more efficiently and effectively without needing their phone to guide them through every keystroke - a tedious process that we aimed to make a thing of the past. Watch our iPhone Brailler demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mw84fKFbIw Technical Specifications: * Print Settings * Rafts: Not Required * Supports: None