New Smartwatch Will Turn Texts Into Braille

Engineers in South Korea are working on a new device that will transform the way visually-impaired users interact with their smartphones.

While computers can be outfitted with Braille technology, smart devices have been slow to catch up, leaving users to stick to Siri and other data readers. But a new device in development called “Dot” uses a series of magnets and pins to turn texts and data into braille. It’s wearable technology that looks something like an Apple Watch.

Eric Ju Yoon Kim, co-founder and CEO of startup Dot, told Tech in Asia that they hope to sell the device for less than $300 when it arrives in the U.S. in December, a pretty reasonable price tag considering Braille technology computers can cost up to $3,000.

As GOOD notes, some critics have pointed out that the watch might have trouble translating larger words. Still, the technology is a step in the right direction for the millions of visually-impaired individuals worldwide.

To learn more about Dot, check out the video below.