Creative cellphones that make communication easy for visually impaired

Designed by Andrew Mitchel, Squibble is a portable Braille interface that will allow visually impaired people to access their mobile phones and other gadgets with a lot more freedom. The interface provides a tactile, audio and high contrast visual feedback for visually challenged people. Squibble is small enough that easily fits into the pocket of users. It uses 779 ultrasonic motors to provide real-time feedback through Braille, which could be easily understood by the users. Connections via Bluetooth could also be established. The British designer says that freedom provided by this device would help in ending various stigmas associated with similar assisted products.

Designed by Siwei Liu, Tactility concept phone is single function mobile phone that allows visually impaired people to make and receive calls with ease and freedom. It features a Braille based keyboard. There is also a circular ring at the bottom of the phone which allows the users to hang the device around their neck for quicker access.

SENS mobile phone concept has been designed to solve problems faced by visually impaired people while using cellphones. It features colored illumination and an identifiable keypad to make and receive calls with ease. The hued illumination on the sides allows users to read small texts on the screen. Designed by Takumi Yoshida, the new concept phone provides a real-time audio feedback to the users by combining touch sensors with the regular keys of the phone. In other words, it provides an audio response to the users whenever they touch the keypad. The concept phone also features a headset integrated with the main phone for allowing smooth talks.

As the name suggests, Tactile phone is a new age innovation which allows visually impaired people to access all modern communication facilities provided by multi-touch screen handsets like e-mail, multimedia messaging, voice calling, cameras etc. The device has been designed by Nikko van Stolk. It is based on a system of digital textures. The system features an orderly arrangement of pins beneath the multi-touch screen that sends digital information as beats of electricity to the user's fingertips to help them recognize the basic shapes on the key pad.

The Aicomobile designed by Lord Leon opens up many avenues of communication via cellphone for visually impaired group. Apart from making regular calls, the innovative cellphone also makes it possible to type and send messages. The Aicomobile appears like Rubik's Cube and features Braille fonts and numbers on its keypad. The visually impaired users can easily identify letters and numbers for typing or calling with the help of an earphone. The mobile can also be worn like a necklace with the help of a strap for a hands free experience.

Designed by Emaa Caddick, the SimpleSee mobile phone is a simple tool of communication for visually weak people. It has simple features that allow its use with freedom and without any help from others. The mobile phone displays easy to read large graphics. It comes in a high contrast casing with an easy to grip edges to ensure complete safety. It also features a wireless charging base to provide maximum freedom to the blind and elderly. You can still question the old age look of this communication device. However, it is the simplicity and ease of its use that improves the quality of life of the helpless.

Designed by Shikun Sun, the DrawBraille touch-enabled phone features Braille alphabets embossed on the surface of the phone. The mechanical dots on the surface form an input area and square patterns above the dots serve as display for the visually impaired people. The 35 Braille alphabets represented by 210 mechanical dots are arranged in five rows on the surface. Users can access different features of the phone by sliding their fingers on these dots. The innovative phone also features many touch input functions. Users can even check battery level with the help of Braille, locate public facilities in the locality and also use the phone as a music player.

The Loop mobile phone attempts to use the tactile senses of users instead of the visual. The handsfree device is without screen and keypad buttons. Instead, it depends on the scroll dialing concept which is much easier for the blind to operate. The phone features an earpiece that can be removed for disconnecting a call or when the phone is not in use. It was originally designed by Andres Parada for a competition organized by LG Electronics and Autodesk. Apart from its benefits for the visually impaired people, the small size of the Loop phone can also attract general users in future.

The B-Touch mobile phone offers dual functions for the blind. It can be used for making and receiving calls and for reading books. Designed by You Zhenvei, the B-Touch phone features a touchscreen display with Braille. A navigation system allows users to navigate along a book reader and an object organizer. It also features voice systems and some other programs for communication.

Designed by a group of Chinese experts, Soft Pet is a special gadget for the visually impaired people. It has been equipped with the call-and-respond naming facility that allows its users to name their device and interact with it in the way they interact with their pets. Not only this, the Soft Pet can also sense the presence of its user. Other features include Braille buttons, speech input, wireless charger and an emergency SOS button.