Social Innovation: The Braille Smartphone.

Sumit Dagar, an Indian innovator, has developed a unique smart phone that can aid the visually impaired to utilize other mobile functions apart from answering calls. The Braille Smartphone works through what is called Shape Memory Alloy Technology which is based on the fact that certain metal alloys “remember” their original shape configuration after they have expanded or contracted. The Braille Smartphone has a series of pins on the surface which expand and contract when the phone receives either a text message or an E-mail. Once the pin has responded to the stimulus, it returns to its original shape. The Braille Smartphone does not stop with just text and E-Mail. Due to “height mapping” technology, images and videos can also be translated into “pin movements” which enables the user to greatly increase knowledge, discussion and also travel through the medium we call the Smartphone.