Six-Key ASCII-Braille Converter with Real-Time Audio and Tactile Feedback for Visually Impaired Communities

Abstract

This research introduces an innovative assistive technology aimed at enhancing communication for visually impaired people in Sri Lanka, particularly those who speak Sinhala and Tamil. The system addresses unique challenges, such as limited accessibility in existing communication tools for these languages. It integrates a six-key ASCII-Braille converter keyboard with a web application that provides tactile and audio feedback for real-time interaction. Users can efficiently input text, which is converted into ASCII-Braille characters for tactile reading. A servo motor automates the interaction with Braille cells, enhancing tactile output. The web application, built with Django and integrated with WebSockets, facilitates real-time communication through instant messaging and group chats, supporting Sinhala and Tamil languages. Additionally, the system utilizes Google Text-to-Speech for auditory feedback, promoting inclusivity for both visually impaired and sighted users. To improve efficiency, Huffman coding is applied to compress data by selecting 10 representative letters from each language, achieving 99% efficiency for Sinhala and 85% for Tamil. Wireshark analysis revealed a delay of approximately 1.32 seconds for input processing, with a minimal delay of 0.0003 seconds for message transmission, highlighting areas for enhancement to improve system responsiveness.