Modern technology for individuals with special educational needs

Meet DOT - Braille smartwatch

DOT: THE FIRST SMARTWATCH FOR THE BLIND

In the age of mobile phones, laptops, virtual reality, high-definition LED TVs, and even smartwatches, the gap between able-bodied and people with disabilities can grow. South Korean company Dot Incorporation is trying to close that gap by producing the Dot Watch, a smartwatch for the visually impaired that first hit the market in December 2016.

What are the benefits of the watch and which features will make everyday life easier?

Braille smartwatch

The Dot Watch is a revolutionary smartwatch that, thanks to modern technology, returns the blind to the traditional use of Braille. This is done with the help of a special display with aluminium dots that simulate this writing. Operation is very easy and intuitive - as soon as you swipe the displayed data, the next part of the text is automatically loaded. At the same time, they have a solid aluminum case, which, together with the bracelet, is "embedded" in an elegant minimalist design.

On the round display of the watch, the braille projections appear. They consist of four cells with six tiny blocks that can be individually slid out or in independently of the others. Thus, all the characters of Braille can be written in each of the six cells. The individual cells are driven by a small motor inside the display. The Dot SmartWatch uses DOT's patented Active Braille technology to reduce weight, minimize size and try to make the price accessible to as many people as possible. The device features a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 7 days on a single charge.

Key features of the Dot Watch smartwatch

Braille with active aluminium dots
Automatic or manual scrolling
Touch control
Rigid aluminium housing
Stopwatch
Alarm clock
Bluetooth interface to connect to your phone
Dot Watch Mobile App (Android/iOS)
Up to 1 week battery life

How does the watch help in everyday life? Check it out ;).

A range of smart features

In addition to displaying the time, the watch offers many other smart features, including a stopwatch, time readout, alarm clock and the ability to connect the watch to a mobile phone to display notifications such as call information, current weather or social network notifications. There's also a feature that helps you find your mobile phone.

In addition to these features, the watch can also display messages or emails you've received. But it can also navigate by GPS, forward notifications to the user from Facebook, for example, and inform about the weather or current events. To use all the functions of the watch, the Dot Watch needs to be paired with a phone via Bluetooth. The Dot Watch mobile app is available for iOS and Android platforms.

The Dot Watch will alert you to an incoming message or notification with a vibration. In addition, using the buttons on the right side, the recipient can also respond to the messages by sending a short reply. The advantage of the watch's display is a higher level of privacy for the blind or otherwise visually impaired. This is because until now these people have to use voice control and text reading.

However, in order not only to praise, we are missing one rather important feature. The ability to send an SOS message to a pre-selected contact with a single touch would certainly be useful. This type of product encourages this.

Dot Watch Mobile App

With the Dot Watch App, the watch will display important notifications from your smartphone. It will alert you to incoming calls, received SMS and other events. Plus, you can see who's calling you with just a touch on the display. Control other functions with the side wheel and a pair of buttons.

Design Award

The Dot Watch has won many international awards thanks to its unique design. What makes it special is its perfect balance between beauty and functionality. The timeless round shape and minimalist silver Milanese bracelet bring comfort in everyday wear and match any outfit. This gives the watch an elegant and minimalist look.

At just 27 grams, it certainly won't weigh you down. The round touchscreen display with a diameter of 43 mm is more suited to wider wrists, but a smaller leather strap can be purchased for smaller hands. A total of three different lengths are available, with the watch itself only being made in the size shown. The manufacturer has emphasised the seamless fastening of the strap, which can be comfortably achieved with one hand. The design is not only tasteful, but also functional. The absence of unnecessary elements makes it easy to operate and quickly find the buttons and individual Braille characters. On the right side there are two buttons, between which is the classic crown.

It doesn't end with Dot Watch

A minor drawback of the Dot Watch smartwatch is the display of a maximum of four characters. Therefore, it is not very suitable for reading longer texts. However, the manufacturer Dot Incorporation sees the novelty as a starting point, which it intends to build on with other models. For example, there is talk of an electronic reader that would work on the same principle. And the manufacturer's plans do not end there. Other technologies for the visually impaired will follow - the Dot Mini educational device or even the Dot Pad designed in cooperation with Google. (Adapted from Alza.cz)

Note: The watches can be purchased directly from the retailer's website, in earlier years Alza.cz also became a distributor in the Czech Republic

LINKS

DOT - Smart Tactile Watch

Oficiální stránky produktu.

Smartphone apps for watches (Google Play)

Smartphone apps for your watch ( Apple App Store)

Review of The Dot, The World’s First Braille Smartwatch (LightHouse Institute)

Playlist - DOT Watch (YouTube)

Unpacking, setting up, wearing and using the watch...

ARTICLE

A wristwatch shaped wireless refreshable braille display which realizes augmented mobile access for blind persons

The paper introduces the development of a wristwatch-shaped wireless refreshable Braille display to provide mobile information access for blind individuals. Designed for wearability and ease of use in standing or mobile scenarios, the device integrates 8 Braille cells and 16 input switches, controlled via Bluetooth. The compact design uses off-the-shelf components, prioritizing affordability and accessibility. The device allows blind users to interact with digital content in real-time without relying on audio, thereby addressing challenges of environmental noise and privacy. Future work involves refining the design for practical use and enhancing the software to better meet users' needs.

Citation

Minatani, K. (2014). A wristwatch-shaped wireless refreshable Braille display which realizes augmented mobile access for blind persons. Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE 3rd Global Conference on Consumer Electronics (GCCE), 206–210. https://doi.org/10.1109/GCCE.2014.7412161