Development and installation of programmable light-emitting Braille blocks

Abstract

A set of programmable light-emitting Braille blocks which comprise of LEDs were developed. They paved on the approach in front of the main building in the campus of Tsukuba University of Technology. Originally the Braille bocks are useful for the blind, but it also is available for the low-visions. With light-emitting functions, Braille blocks can be good walking guide for them even in the night. These blocks have each ID number and its luminance can be controlled in eight levels. Most remarkable feature is that the program which controls illuminating timing and the brightness is rewritable. By that feature, these blocks became an emergency guide system by changing the animation patterns. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.