Ripple Reader [affordable braille reader]

We would like to introduce a cutting-edge braille reader called the Ripple Reader. Our implementation of the braille reader will significantly reduce the price of the product by both offboarding several components of the software to a mobile phone along with using a unique electro-mechanical multiplexing system to control the refreshable braille cells. The Ripple Reader will provide USB input along with support for both optical character recognition (OCR) to give the user more access to tactile information alongside a user configurable audio feedback to give the user an opportunity to have near-instant spoken feedback for the character or word they just read. Via our safe, sustainable, and affordable device, LampLight Labs aims to minimize the technological gap the visually impaired face in hopes to subsequently lessen the divide in employment and education present today for the demographic.