Nokia brings Braille to SMS

@AC

Is the whole idea not that it is silent?

They already have text to speech

I've got it on my E90.

@@Ac

"Is the whole idea not that it is silent?"

Well perhaps add an earpiece then? Afterall, it buzzes, so it's not totally silent.

I kind of think the Nokia guys forgot that Braille is a means to an end not an end in itself.

@ Anonymous Coward

To convert a snapshot of text into speakable text requires Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and OCR is not noted for "first-time, every-time" accuracy--not to mention even with that it's slow as molasses.

As I read this, I wonder if anyone's considered making a phone specifically for the blind, replacing the display screen with a refreshable braille display.

Impressive...

but why display the Braille?

@@@Ac

I think your missing the point.

The point is it alowes people to read text messages, not just hear them.

Joke Alert....?

"Nokia Labs has been busy again, this time bringing SMS reception to the blind with a Braille-based text message reader compatible with the company's latest... *touch-screen* phones.

Blind people usually have little difficulty using mobile phones."

The major issue with the Trend for touch screens in consumer electronics there is no tactile or haptic feedback for anyone relying on touch alone to read, use or interface with a human computer interface. Blind people have pretty much been... blindfolded? in thier attempts to enjoy or use the latests devices on the markets.

as an experimental application its interesting, but has no place for a blind person on a full touch device, unless...

.....@Marvin the Martian.

What you are asking for there is the touch screen Holy Grail for both sighted and non sighted use, very accurate tactile, and haptic feedback which have yet to hit the mass market. once we see these on full touch devices I would suggest your solution would be pretty good.