The world's first smartphone for the blind is being made in India by the country's young and talented innovator Sumit Dagar at the Incubation center in Indian Institute of Management, Ahmadabad.
Dagar, who holds a postgraduate degree from the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, always wanted to do something for the marginalised section who have often been neglected. It was this need that led him to the idea of developing a smartphone that uses Braille.
"We have created the world's first Braille smartphone," said Dagar. "This product is based on an innovative 'touch screen' which is capable of elevating and depressing the contents it receives to transform them into 'touchable' patterns."
The prototype of the smartphone which is developed in association with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi is being tested at L V Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad.
"The response during the test has been immense. It comes out as a companion more than a phone to the user. We plan to do more advanced versions of the phone in the future," Dagar told The Times of India.
According to reports, the smartphone is likely to be priced less than ₹10,000. Developers are planning roll out the device by the end of 2013.
The smartphone would enable the blind to read SMSs, emails, graphics and images. It will also have all the other features of a regular smartphone.
The device will pack a touchscreen with specially designed pins which would help the blind to read content. Other features of the phone include - Shape Memory Alloy technology and a unique touchscreen which will elevate, depress received content and transform it into Braille pattern. The grid of the smartphone will also have a Braille display.
