Braille dict: Dictionary application for the blind on android smartphone

Abstract

© 2014 IEEE. Braille is the way the blind and the visually impaired read and write. Since the dictionaries which are suitable for the visually impaired are still scarce, we propose Braille Dict as a helpful application for the blind and the visually impaired to get the highest benefit in studying English and improve their quality of life. Braille Dict is an Android application on the smartphone which allows the blind and the visually impaired input English words via a Braille keyboard on the screen. Unlike other approaches, new effective method of inputting six-dot Braille is used to remarkably fasten the performance. Then, the word will be searched from the database and translated into Thai. Importantly, this application will speak all texts for user mainly by using a Text-to-Speech engine which would significantly provide a convenience to the visually impaired.