Braille Displays Are Too Expensive According to Tactile Dynamics

Tactile Dynamics Inc. (TDI) says it will lower prices significantly with their recently patented refreshable Braille display. The new technology makes multi-line and full-page Braille displays feasible and affordable.

TDI will initially offer two text-only refreshable Braille displays, (TRBDs) the Braille Messenger: A TRBD for 6- and 8-dot Braille with display area 20 characters wide by 6 or 5 rows high able to display 120 characters in 6-dot format or 100 characters in 8-dot format priced at $2,650 USD. Braille device manufacturers can bundle this TRBD with their proprietary software and hardware (via a USB 2.0 port connection) to provide devices suitable for refreshable Braille text messages.

Braille Book Reader is a TRBD for 6- and 8-dot Braille with display area 40 characters wide by 25 or 21 rows high. It is able to display 1000 characters in 6-dot format or 820 characters in 8-dot format and is priced at $5,260 USD. Braille device manufacturers and DAISY book developers can bundle this TRBD with their proprietary software and hardware (via a USB 2.0 port connection) to provide computer output devices and full-page Braille book-readers.

These 2 TRBDs will permit manufacturers of assistive technology to offer innovative products with affordable Braille text displays. They will encourage mainstream manufacturers of appliances, cell phones, etc. to provide Braille add-ons to their products. TDI will present a paper on this innovative Braille technology at the 2005 CSUN Conference.

Source: CSUN 2005