Phone manufacturer OwnFone, has lunch its first phone for blind people. The phone body build is plastic with just a few of the most important buttons, but thanks to 3D printing techniques, each button is personalised with specific Braille commands or names.
Both the front and the back of the device are 3D printed, with the Braille icons joined by tactile volume up and volume down buttons.
The process keeps the cost down, allowing OwnFone to be the first to release a fully-working Braille phone in the UK.
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“3D printing… provides a fast and cost-effective way to create personalised Braille buttons,”
said inventor Tom Sunderland. Speaking to the BBC, he also revealed that the 3D printing method could also benefit blind people who cannot read Braille.
“The phone can be personalised with two or four Braille buttons which are pre programmed to call friends, family, carers or the services,” he said.”
“This is the first phone to have a 3D printed keypad and for people that can’t read Braille, we can print texture and raised text on the phone. Our 3D phone printing process is patent pending.”
The Braille version of the 1stFone will cost £60 when ordered through the company’s website.
It can be customised to assign family, friends and other specific numbers to each button so a call can be made with just one press.
Source: Pocket Lint
