Bridging the gap between blind individuals and technology

With the increasing reliance on smart devices in daily life, accessibility for blind and visually impaired individuals remains a critical challenge. Arash Saghi, who is currently pursuing a Master´s degree in Design and Interaction at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, has come up with a solution how to bridge this gap. He wants convert images that normal sighted people can perceive visually into tactile braille images.

Blind Individuals Screen Assistant (BISA)

“The core concept of BISA involves creating an algorithm that translates luminance values of an image into corresponding pin heights, with brighter parts raising the pins and darker parts lowering them, allowing users to “feel” the image”, explains Arash Saghi. He drew inspiration from the pin screen animation, which was originally developed for effects in animated films: A wall of nails that is equipped with moving nails. “With my background in Animation, I realized that combining traditional pin screen animation techniques with AI and digital devices could provide an effective solution”, he points out.

AI will be used to enhance accuracy by minimising calculation errors in grayscale image analysis. “This project leverages the principle that images, regardless of their colours, are composed of light with varying luminance values that determine the parts or pixels of the image. By focusing solely on these luminance values, the proposed algorithm effectively removes colour data and converts the visual output into a tactile format,” he illustrates.

Enable blind and visually impaired people to participate more fully in everyday life

“This technology allows blind individuals to interact with a wide range of digital content around the city, such as digital promotional poster screens, and to work and interact easily with devices at universities, significantly improving accessibility and fostering greater inclusivity in the digital world”, tells Arash Saghi enthusiastically.

He also shares how he first came up with the idea for developing BISA: “It was during my bachelor’s studies in Iran. At my university, there was a blind student who faced numerous challenges due to his disability. He had to work significantly harder to acquire academic skills, such as using computers and interpreting visual information.” Additionally, he frequently observed blind individuals in public areas struggling to access updated information, like transportation schedules. This led him to think about how images and text could be transformed into a more accessible format for them.

Welcoming support

“This project has always been a passion of mine”, emphasises Arash Saghi. “I had planned to start the research and development phase soon. However, considering the technical challenges and potential financial requirements, it would be difficult to proceed without support.” Arash Saghi will need external assistance for the programming and technical development of the AI component. Also, the specialised sensitive pins required for the tactile interface can be very costly. He is therefore very excited to see his idea shortlisted in the Klever Birne 2024 sustainability competition.