Braille Messenger, developed by Vasileios Mitrousis and Aristodemos Paphitis, won 1st place in the 2012 Microsoft Imagine Cup local finals and aims to connect the 284 million visually impaired individuals to the mobile community. The innovation allows eyes-free message composition and reading using a unique touch-based technology that eliminates the need for expensive Bluetooth braille keyboards. Prototypes are functional, with plans for availability on Windows Phone, iPhone, and Android, and future developments will include social media and email integration.

1. Braille Messenger
www.braillemessenger.com

2. Braille Messenger
1st place on 2012 Microsoft’s ImagineCup local finals
Participates on ImagineCup finals on July 2012, Sydney
Braille Messenger founders
Vasileios Mitrousis
Aristodemos Paphitis

3. Motivation
The facts
Texting is dominating telecommunications worldwide
3.8 billion cellular subscriptions in developing nations
On the other side
284 million visually impaired in 2011 (WHO)
39% are totally blind

4. The problem
Touch screen devices expand rapidly in smartphone
markets
Touch screen displays make visually impaired truly blind
So, how can they communicate with existing methods?

5. Our goal
Connect visually impaired to the global mobile
community
Eyes-free message composition
Eyes-free message reading

6. Braille Code
A 3x2 binary matrix, up to 63 combinations
Supports over 130 languages
Hardware exists since 1939

7. Evolving text composition
Traditional method in a new way
Precise, fast
No training needs
Same layout as in
braille typewriters

8. Why this is different
Bluetooth braille keyboards
Very expensive
Limited mobility
Speech to text
Language/accent restrictions
Difficulty in noisy environments
Privacy

9. Innovation in reading
“See no evil, hear no evil”
It uses nothing but touch
Phone provides vibrations
User percepts position of dots
UNIQUE solution for deaf blindness

10. What’s next
Prototypes are already functional
Braille Messenger will be available for
Windows Phone 7
iPhone
Android
Scheduled release at the end of July
Future development includes social media and email

11. Thank you!
I will be happy to answer any question