sketch assignment - clock for blind people

1. braille display


There are 4 sets of braille which is combined with 6 solenoids.
Each set displays a number of time.
The first set indicates AM/PM, so it always shows 4 numbers.
ex) 06:32 / 18:40

2. braille with LED display


This idea is for both public and blind people.
Blind people can read a braille which is controlled by stepper motor inside.
Its shape is easy to fit to 4 fingers and when they wants to read time, user can push the side buton. Then the side button controls moving motors so it can reduce waste of power.
When it comes to fabricate, its size depends on the size of stepper motor.
So, if I can get small and light weight stepper motor, the limit of application can be extended.

3. 2 dots with spinning plate.

It's initial idea was come at the class.
I actually worked on braille project through last semester. So I briefly researched blind people and braille system, I realized that the braille is not that popular anymore. Even most of blind people cannot read braille because it is hard to learn and also there are many other devices which provides speech or sound. So I liked to make something more simple and intuitional interface. There are two main indicator show hours and minutes. Each indicator is controlled by stepper motor inside and then it moves to exact time position just as general clock.
So, the cover plate also has tangible indicators describe the 12 hour directions.

4. spinning plate with 1 solenoid


This project is almost similar with 3rd one. But it only has 1 indicator which is pumping up when user press a button on it. So, the tangible indicator will move for 3 times, one for an hour, rest two for minutes. For instance, if the time is 3:42, the inside motor spins to 3 hour direction and push up tangible indicator, then move to 4 and push up and move to 2 and push up again. So the user can recognize 3 different tangible direction. Also, its cover has 12 hour and 60 minutes direction indicator just as general clock direction.



5. 2 way indicator.
This idea displays 2 way, front side for an hour and back for the minutes.

There are 3 buttons over the cover and its inside is empty as a hole.
Also, there are 2 circle shaped plate inside, covered with brailles which shows hour directions.
So the user can push the button then the plates start move and stop at the time position. User also can feel movement of inside braille plate through the hole. If it can be a feasible plan, inside stepper motor and 2 plates inside have to be small and light weight.