BACKGROUND:

Access to content is very difficult for the 285 million blind and visually impaired people worldwide: Only 3% of all digital text content is available in Braille, because material is expensive and translation requires human understanding, which makes it not profitable for publishers in most cases. There is no alternative to Braille, especially for education: 90% of people who can’t read Braille are unemployed.

Braille translation is highly complex: Grade 2 Braille – the standard for longer text – relies heavily on contractions. This leads to ambiguity, where exact meaning depends on context. So far, even the best software requires additional human input.

 

IDEA:

Dot Mini. The first smart media device for the visually impaired. It makes any digital text content accessible through the innovative Dot Translation Engine based on AI.

 

EXECUTION:

The Dot Translation Engine can automatically convert any digital text into Grade 2 Braille.

The 16 Cell Active Braille Display is built with the innovative (70 patents) Dot Technology, uniquely based on magnetism, which reduces size, weight, power consumption and price by up to ten times.

Dot Mini can access digital text files from online libraries and websites, local and network storage.

Full audio support with speaker, headphones and microphone allows multisensory experiences like karaoke and even experiencing movies.

Intuitive control elements (directional pad, select, menu, scroll buttons) and voice recognition make interactive applications like text editing, calculation and even games possible.

Various interfaces: USB, Micro USB, Micro HDMI, SD Card, WiFi and Bluetooth.

Comfortably portable: 158x108x18mm / 256g.

 

RESULT:

Ongoing closed beta phase and rollout of first 1000 units in Kenya and India.

200,000 books directly available through partnerships with big content platforms (Rakuten Kobo, Yes24).

40,000 units are pre-ordered for global launch in late 2018.