INEXPENSIVE BRAILLER: Writing Braille Using IMPAD - Courant ...

seen in the picture above and we were using the soft buttons described above again, but this time,
we removed the buttons for the backspace, new line and space keys. This way, the user will be
able to locate the exact six fingers that they suppose to press, in order to start the device. We also
made the buttons smaller and circler instead of elliptical. This help the user feel the area of their
touch and this way they would not touch somewhere so far away from their first touch point on
the IMPAD. In this method, the number of the soft buttons was six, less than the first method‟s
layout but there were still 9 keys used in order to enter input.
In the third version of the IMPAD Brailler, we use the same methodology as the second
one, except the use of little fingers. Instead of having separate keys for new line and backspace,
we use one of the Braille cells which are not mapped into any character. The six fingers will be
on the IMPAD continuously, without applying pressure. If the user lifts his/her hands, they will
be able to replace their fingers, which will result in new positions for the keys. This is convenient
since they are able relocate the points where their fingers are touching the IMPAD.
With the six fingers placed on the IMPAD, they will apply pressure on all of these six
fingers at the same time. The device will register the positions of the six dots, plus the position
for the space key, which will be in the middle of the left and right index fingers.
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