Technology is supposed to make the lifestyle more convenient. Taking it further, it should be helping those who are not equipped to lead a lifestyle the same way many people do. Technology today has all the potential to be of aid to those who are differently-abled, physically. Dot, the world's first braille smartwatch, appears to be a device that serves such a purpose.
Says Dot CEO Eric Ju Yoon Kim of why the device is needed in an interview with Tech in Asia, "Ninety percent of blind people become blind after birth and there's nothing for them right now -- they lose their access to information so suddenly."
Design-wise, the smartwatch resembles a Fitbit, and functions like any standard smartwatch, setting alarms and sending messages among other things. The braille element, of course, is what sets Dot apart. According to Endgadget, the watch features dull pins on its surface, which the user can touch and then read. Because of this feature, the user will not need a portable braille reader for e-books. The dots rise and fall on the surface at a speed which can be adjusted to suit the owner's needs.
According to Dot's website, the new watch can help in accessing e-books easily, anywhere. The device also helps blind readers, most of whom have chosen to give up on reading altogether because of the lack of braille e-books and their steep prices should they be available. Navigation and Bluetooth features are also included in the smartwatch.
Perhaps the best function of the smartwatch is its braille learning system, which is targeted for beginners in braille. The majority of visually-impaired people do not learn braille, so the use of the device can be a learning experience, as well as an opportunity to experience smart technology that can aid them in many tasks.
"Dot can be their lifeline, so they can learn Braille and access everyday information through their fingers, which is the goal of Braille literacy," Kim added.
With the Korean startup bringing the technology as the first of its kind, Dot may very well be a lifeline for the blind.
