High-Tech Braille for Africa
Access to digital text for blind people can be achieved by converting the text into a dot pattern called Braille comprised of up to eight tactile dots. Until now, refreshable braille displays have been prohibitively expensive, so not everyone who needs them can afford them. TETRAGON’s goal is to bring Braille technology to more people than ever before.
The Current State
Until around 200 years ago, reading and writing were purely analog activities based on line patterns. It was Louis Braille who first established a digital writing system made of discrete dots named after him. Nevertheless, blind people, especially from African countries, are today often excluded from the digitized world because Western Braille hardware is expensive and fragile. This has created a discriminatory monopoly of the West that needs to be broken.
Our Offer
To bring digital inclusion to Africa, TETRAGON has developed two innovative Braille display technologies that represent significant design simplifications over existing products. In order to now make these technologies accessible to as many blind people as possible worldwide, a radically new model for manufacturing and distribution must be developed in close cooperation with partners in Africa.
Partners in Africa are supplied by TETRAGON with components, plans and know-how at cost price (less than 10% of the price of the finished device). Through assembly, distribution and maintenance in their own country, they generate jobs and added value locally.
More Information
The following two folders contain more information about our two Braille technology concepts, including several recent photos of hardware details.
Your Involvement
Are you interested in becoming a partner? Or do you have any questions about our project? Then please feel free to contact us!