Did you know images can be experienced through tactile senses, and pictures can become tactile graphics? The Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) veterans were deeply moved, and even Andrea Bocelli was amazed, exclaiming, "Wow, is this real?" When the Dot Pad was first released overseas, it was only available at events such as the CSUN Conference or BVA Convention in the US, which was disappointing for visually impaired people in Korea.
Finally, the Dot Pad was unveiled at the 20th Korea Technology & Contents Fair 2023 showcase, held under the theme "The Future is Contents." The showcase was attended by around one hundred VIPs, including families of the visually impaired and related institutions and organizations. It provided an opportunity to showcase the development background of the Dot Pad and the tactile display desired by the visually impaired.
During the event, we highlighted our goal of improving information accessibility in the digital era by creating an environment where digital tactile graphic content can be produced and used. The showcase was a success and generated a lot of excitement. Here are some of the best highlights!
Of the many testimonials we received, here are three from users who experienced the Dot Pad that day.
Hyung-bae Park, from Busan
Park was impressed by the large number of braille cells and amazed that pictures could be described in braille. He also discovered a new way of reading Hangeul (Korean Letter) through the pins on the display. He found the picture description in braille much better when he touched it with dots, making it easier to understand. Park expressed his hopes that the Dot Pad would support Korean characters, Chinese characters, and other images. He believes that it would be helpful for non-disabled individuals to communicate with visually impaired people.
Ae-sook Lee, Korean Braille Library
She believes tables, graphs, and maps can be implemented on a tactile display, providing visually impaired individuals access to more information. She emphasized the importance of tactile experience in early childhood and elementary school, as it allows individuals to absorb information more effectively. She hopes the Dot Pad will be provided to visually impaired individuals to create a more inclusive environment.
"She believes it takes extensive tactile experience for a blind person to comprehend visual information. For instance, a blind person who has only felt an elephant's trunk or ears may not immediately recognize it as an elephant. Therefore, blind individuals must have access to tactile experiences from early childhood and elementary school when they absorb much information. "
She hopes tactile pads are more available and an environment is created to support this need.
Eun-Seon Lee, Hae-bom's mum
Lee shared her experience as a mother of a visually impaired child, Hae-bom. She explained how Hae-bom struggles to recognize pictures and subtitles on the screen due to her school's heavy use of visual materials. However, with the Dot Pad, she believes it would significantly improve her daughter's classroom experience. She expressed hopes that Hae-bom could use the Dot Pad in her classroom, as it would provide her with a more interactive and inclusive learning environment.
"With the many images and diagrams in textbooks and class materials, a teacher's aide is always nearby to explain them to Hae-bom. I believe there will be a significant difference between what she hears and imagines and what she can touch and feel. It would be amazing."
Visual information plays a crucial role in accessing information for visually impaired individuals. However, most textbooks and other materials omit pictures, limiting opportunities for diverse experiences. We believe that the Dot Pad, which displays tactile graphics, can be more than just a device for outputting graphics. It has the potential to assist visually impaired individuals in their daily life. Please stay tuned for new updates!