A new, free to download app for Nokia mobile phones promises to make reading text messages easier for visually impaired consumers.
Developed by Nokia Beta Labs in conjunction with Tampere University and the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired, the Nokia Braille Reader works by capturing SMS messages and translating them into Braille and tactile feedback.
A statement from Nokia explained: “The Vibrating motor in the phone reads the Braille character out dot by dot, you feel a sharp pulse when a raised dot is present and a soft one when the dot is not raised.
“There is a pause between letters and a longer one between words, a longer buzz indicates the end of the message. The speed of reading and the lengths of the pauses can be controlled from the settings menu.”
The app is compatible with all Symbian S60 5th Edition Nokia mobiles, which includes a host of mass market devices such as the N97, the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and the Nokia 5530 XpressMusic.
Currently in the testing stage, Nokia is requesting that people who download the app provide feedback so that any issues can be addressed before the Braille Reader is given an official launch.
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