A South Korean startup company has created Dot, the first braille smartwatch, complete with shifting cells of dots. For some time, people who are blind have needed to have messages read to them, but this innovative technology allows the person to read it for themselves.
On its face, it has four cells each with six active dots, which can raise or lower to make four braille letters at a time. It links up with Bluetooth to convert texts from apps like iMessage into their braille letter equivalents with the user’s voice commands. The device’s battery can last up for five days before needing to be charged.
The watch can be used to access various text data including messages, tweets, e-mails, and more. It also functions as a watch and alarm. This can help people who are blind/have low vision to access messages and content in a whole new way.
One benefit of the Dot wearable is the cost. Unlike braille e-readers, which can cost thousands of dollars, the device is slated to cost less than $300 when it hits U.S. markets in December. The watch will be compatible for both Android and IOS devices.