Braille Buddy

Braille Buddy

Braille learning is a necessary skill not only for the people with vision disabilities, it is a precondition for

all who are associated with the special teaching program of visually impaired. The human voice

recording technologies and synthetic speech feedback software have provided an easy access to the

information to visually impaired people but at the same time, these new advancements in technology

have presented a false alternative of Braille and discouraged people from learning this script.

We just need common sense and not complex analysis to realize the fact that there is a clear difference

between reading and writing on the one side and listening and dictation on the other. We understand

that the script is a core component of the language and replacing it with verbal alternative using bogus

arguments would result into calamitous consequences.

In the age of digital revolution and advanced learning methodologies, it is important to setup the new

paradigm of teaching and learning Braille through affordable, innovative and conversant devices and

technologies. In our mission of making assistive technology solution, we at Sugamya Foundation have

successfully designed Braille Buddy, a Braille teaching learning app for Android platform.

The Braille Buddy is the android based app for smart phones and tablets that promises effective Braille

learning for visually impaired people and others through user-friendly accessible interface, attractive

sound library, customizable options and pioneering approach. The application uses graphical layout of a

Braille cell and spacebar in the center of the screen. The graphical Braille cell and spacebar can be

identified through a position paper placed on the screen of the phone/tablet. The user can feel the

Braille dots of the position paper through touch of her finger and press it to enter the responses. The

Braille Buddy displays a print alphabet on the screen just above the Braille cell and plays a sound for that

alphabet. The user is supposed to press the dots of that alphabet. She can then press the spacebar to

check her response. The app then announces the result and moves to the next alphabet using a random

selection.

The app contains a navigation panel to change the settings. The mode option allows the user to switch

the Braille mode between reading and writing. In the reading mode, the left column responses to dot

number 1,2 and 3 and the right column corresponds to the dots 4,5 and 6 respectively. The writing

mode interchange both the column in the Braille cell that enable user to enter the responses similar to a

Braille slate.

The app provides support for Hindi and English languages and one can change the language preference

in the language option of the navigation panel. The language selection determines the sound library,

print alphabets and all rules automatically.

Children find the standard Braille cell too confusing due to the proximity of the dots and therefore

teaching these children through more spaced Braille cell is always a good choice. The app provides

small, medium and large, three sizes of a Braille cell to solve this problem. One can pic any of the size

from dot size option. It is important to note that changing the position paper for each Braille cell size is

required in case of using the app through the touch alone.

The resources option takes the user to a designated online resource center which provides information

related to Braille script, Braille chart, Braille devices, Braille software and much more. The resource page

can be updated without updating the Braille Buddy app on the device.