IIIT-B student secures patent for innovative device to assist visually impaired students

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Mayank Kabra, a final-year iMTech student at IIIT-B, has developed a groundbreaking device designed to support visually impaired students in their educational journey.

His invention, named 'System and Method for Assisting Visually Impaired Individuals,' aims to transform the learning experience for visually impaired students who often face challenges in accessing education alongside their sighted peers due to the high cost or limited integration of existing solutions.

During his internship in ECE with a specialisation in Zurich, Kabra created a device that mounts on the fingers and employs cutting-edge technology, including haptic feedback, real-time digital board interaction, and tactile braille feedback.

This innovative device enables visually impaired students to actively participate in real-time classroom interactions.

Explaining the functionality of his invention, Kabra said the device captures data from the digital board in a live classroom setting and guides the user's finger movements through haptic feedback.

The text displayed on the board is then converted into braille, allowing users to read by touch.

Furthermore, the device offers feedback on drawn figures, facilitating tactile exploration of the presented content. Kabra's motivation behind developing this device was to address the challenges faced by visually impaired students and promote their full integration into mainstream education.

By providing a cost-effective alternative to existing assistive technologies, Kabra's invention has the potential to level the playing field for visually impaired students.

The device features a haptic feedback system controlled by a microcontroller, which simulates the motion of the cursor on the digital board.

Additionally, the braille display converts text into tactile feedback, enhancing the learning experience for visually impaired students.