New optical sensor reads Braille at the speed of touch

Eureka Alert

16th January 2025

New optical sensor reads Braille at the speed of touch

Skin-inspired tactile sensor combines speed with accuracy, paving the way to improved accessibility for people with blindness

Researchers have developed a fast and accurate flexible optical skin that can be used to read Braille. The advance could not only improve access to information for people who are blind but also helps move us closer to a future where accessible and adaptable technology can benefit everyone.

“Braille, which is made of tiny raised dots, requires very precise sensors to be read correctly,” said research team leader Zhuo Wang from Beijing Normal University in China. “Traditional sensors struggle with this, especially for dynamic tasks like reading Braille as a person moves their finger over it in real-time. Our sensor can handle tiny Braille details accurately and quickly.”

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1070811