Project Description

WearaBraille is a research project into wearable computing, and the use of MEMS sensors as novel input technology to mobile devices such as laptops, PDAs and smartphones. Our prototype device functions much like a Braille keyboard, but instead of buttons for each finger to press, there are accelerometers on the back of each finger, near the knuckles (keeping the palms and finger tips free). When a finger taps on a table top or other firm surface, the WearaBraille knows that the Braille dot associated with that finger is part of the current character. By tapping multiple fingers simultaneously to indicate multi-dot characters, the WearaBraille user can type text, as well as moving the cursor and performing other system control functions. The device connects to a computer or smartphone via a wireless connection, such as Bluetooth; it has been demonstrated with an iPhone, an Android smartphone, and a Windows laptop.