eBraille | Uche Ajuonuma

eBraille: Reading-Aid

eBraille is conceptual eye-glasses that enable visually impaired persons to read and navigate their surroundings without assitance. It is a real-time image analytic glass designed for the visually impaired persons. This device is capable of analysing an image to get information from it in real time. eBraile can detect and also extract text or handwritten letters and digits in notes, newspapers, signboards, marker boards or any other source using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and this extracted text is converted to speech. Also, it detects objects, products, and persons from an image taken and this information is communicated via speech to the user. The beauty of this product is that the software (Image analytics) is running on-premise and do not require an internet connection. Running the software on the edge eliminates the delay in the bi- directional messages between cloud and device due to slow internet connectivity or the ineffectiveness of the device when there’s no connection.

3D Model

Screenshot of the completed 3D modeled eBraille before rendering.

Design Thinking and Methodolgy

Methodology

eBraille is an idea that was born during a hardware hackathon I chaired in 2018. The hardware makeup of this device is consist of a powerful processor capable of running Image processing algorithms with ease, four high pixel cameras which will capture clear image-p, a rechargeable button-cell battery, all embeded in a sytlish eyeglasses and a bluetooth earpiece for speech communication.

Considerations:
Prior to the commencement of this research, the following considerations were made:

Size of the device: We plan to moderate the size of the product to its smallest possible dimension so as not to impose unnecessary load on the user. As such, most components may be chipped to achieve the desire.
Cost: Major population of blind people can be found in the rural areas, so we will try to reduce internet dependency of the product for low-income persons on limited features meanwhile providing an internet-depended subscription unlimited version with unlimited premium features for those that can afford it.
User Friendliness: We will make eBraille super friendly by reducing the number of buttons and icons in the software.

Prove of Concept Prototype

eBraille Prototype User in Real Time

Hardware Main Components

Processor
4peices of 12MP Camera
Bluetooth board
Rechargeable button-cell battery
Memory Storage Disk
Bluetooth Earpiece
Wifi module
GPS Module

Software Display

The Software

Computer vision algorithms running on this hardware will include:

Optical Character Recognition(OCR) algorithm: detects and extract embedded texts from any source.
Facial recognition algorithm: to recognize people, and also celebrities in image-p.
Object detection algorithm: returns information about the visual information found in an image.

Camera Design Concept

Camera Features and Specifications

12MP camera
ƒ/2.2 aperture
Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control
4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
1080p HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps
Next-generation Smart HDR for photos
Wide color capture for photos and Live Photos
Retina Flash
Auto image and character stabilization

Bluetooth Earpiece Design Concept

Charging Port Design Concept

The eBraille App

eBraille, is designed to be operated with a smart phone. The smart phone contains an App called eBraille that can be launched using either Apple Siri or Andriod Google Assistance and be controlled with a voice prompt. It also has a user-friendly interface that would make it easy to be operated by a visually challenged person with ease.

Bluetooth Earpiece Charging Pin Design Concept

Glasses User in Real Time

Featured Works

WHO AM I?

I am Uchechukwu Ajuonuma. You can call me Uche. Uche is a dynamic leader with vast experience in design thinking, product design/development, business development projects, critical thinking, sales and marketing initiatives that align with corporate and industrial capabilities, strategies and goals. Excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills and ability to empathize and mobilize different stakeholders around a common agenda. In all, Uche is a T-shaped personality, with a wide breadth of skills and a tall length of a skill in product design. Uche has solid command of AutoCAD, Fusion 360, SolidWorks, many other CADs, FEA, CAMs, and 3D printing. He designs all sorts of tools, machinery, products etc. He is result oriented, innovative, and a team leader. He reads, understands and interprets all sorts of blueprints. He is very tactical in the use of Human Centered Design (H.C.D) to provide solutions that fit customers' demand.

UCHE AJUONUMA.