Nowadays many scientists try to find a way to return vision to blind people. If they succeed, it will be one of the greatest achievements. Meanwhile PC producers, taking into consideration the fact that blind people can not use modern technologies, decided to create something that will improve and diversify their everyday life. Given gadget named Siafu represents a personal computer designed to give people with vision loss a more intuitive computer experience. The designer of this wonderful device is Jonathan Lucas. It looks like a flat tablet that allows the user to fully interact with it by simple touching. The surface of the device utilizes a conceptual material called magneclay or magnetized liquid. This material has the ability to morph upward into any shape via a controlled electromagnetic field enabling the device to create a Braille (a system of writing for the blind consisting of raised dots that can be interpreted by touch) surface for reading and even pictures in 3D relief.
The main technology used in Siafu - Magneclay - represents an oil based synthetic agent that possesses limitless morphing capabilities. It has a loose molecular structure but can be infinitely rearranged when acted upon by electrical and magnetic charges. As long as the charges acting upon it remain stable, the magneclay will hold its structural rigidity, allowing it to be touched without deformation.In addition to that Siafu’s magneclay surface can generate full spread Braille layouts, allowing users to enjoy reading digital content in a large book style relief. The surface of the gadget can form a working 9-button Braille keyboard. The Braille output allows the user to conveniently review what they just typed.
Moreover Siafu possesses a built-in microphone, which provides an alternative to typing. Its high performance voice recognition software allows the user to simply speak into the microphone, and the words are instantly appeared on the screen Braille relief.
But that's not the half of it. Given gadget also has the ability to display screen images such as web pages. It can even go one step further and convert all the active text on the screen into translated Braille relief. Device utilizes 2D to 3D image conversion technology to process screen images. It then generates a 3-Dimensional digital wire frame which is then processed through electrical currents into the magneclay. The end result is a highly accurate 3-Dimensional representation of the image.Unbelievable gadget, isn't it?
