Blind Bargains

#CSUNATC22 Audio: Feel The Difference In Words And Tactile Graphics Through Dot Pad


Many of you might be familiar with Dot through their first entry into the market with the Dot Watch. Since then, the company has grown their offerings beyond the Braille timepiece and are now reaching into the realm of tactile graphics. J.J. traveled to the CSUN basement to talk with Daniel Hyun, Director of Operations for Dot Incorp, about their new technology shown at the Exhibit Hall. The pair discuss how the team has iterated to a 4th generation of Braille Cell, their drive towards Accessible Kiosks and then the conversation moves to the Dot Pad prototype. Fans of Open Source Projects won t want to miss the discussion about the API mentioned in this interview. To learn more about Dot, including the Dot Watch, visit the official website

Blind Bargains Virtual Exhibit Hall coverage is Brought to you by AFB AccessWorld.

For the latest news and accessibility information on mainstream and access technology, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon offerings, access technology book reviews, and mobile apps, and how they can enhance entertainment, education and employment, log on to AccessWorld, the American Foundation for the Blind's free, monthly, online technology magazine. Visit https://www.afb.org/aw

Transcript

We strive to provide an accurate transcription, though errors may occur.

Hide transcript
Directly, and actually in person, from Anaheim, it’s blindbargains.com coverage of CSUN 2022. Brought to you by AFB AccessWorld.
For the latest news and accessibility information on mainstream and access technology; Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon offerings; access technology book reviews and mobile apps; and how they can enhance entertainment, education, and employment, log onto AccessWorld. The American Foundation for the Blind’s free online technology magazine. Www.afb.org/aw.
Now, here’s J.J. Meddaugh.
J.J. MEDDAUGH: We’re here in the basement of CSUN 2022 with Daniel Hunn, Director of Global Operations for Dot Incorporation. We have a lot of questions and people asking about the Dot Pad, and he’s here to tell us all about it.
Thank you so much. Welcome to the podcast.
DANIEL HUNN: Well, thank you. It’s great seeing you.
JM: So there’s been a little bit of history with the Dot Pad, and you’ve shown it for a couple years, but you were actually getting really close to release, you had a big announcement last weekend with Apple.
DH: Yes.
JM: Tell me about the latest with the Dot Pad.
DH: So with Apple, you know – Apple’s been very generous in trying to help out our product be as feature-filled as possible, so what Apple did was open up their API so that we can, you know, change the rotors and add – create an API so that other developers can program directly for the Dot Pad. So what we’re envisioning is that the Dot Pad becomes a device that has no limits to the possibilities, for example, to see charts, to see spreadsheets. Anything that someone would need, whether it’s in education or entertainment.
JM: So I was just in the booth a few minutes ago, and I was checking this out. And you have an array of 2400 pins, and you have this –
DH: Yes.
JM: -- connected to an iPhone.
DH: Yes, I did. And actually, it was connected through VoiceOver. And so anything that the VoiceOver is highlighting, you’ll be able to see that on the display and feel it for yourself.
JM: So anything from icons on the home screen to pictures in the photo gallery –
DH: Right.
JM: -- were being rendered. So how does the Dot Pad know what to render? Where is that intelligence coming from?
DH: So actually, it’s mostly through the VoiceOver so that whatever the VoiceOver’s highlighting – so even if it’s, let’s say, highlighting the back button, it will actually render that image – whatever’s captured on that VoiceOver on to the Dot Pad.
JM: Are there certain colors, then, that would be rendered as, you know, sticking up? Like, are lighter colors rendered that way versus darker colors, or how does that work?
DH: For that, right now, it’s mostly – I guess the outline of the image.
JM: Okay.
DH: Whatever’s the most prominent. There isn’t a specific color scheme that we use that it catches one color over the other. But I think that’s actually a good, kind of, way to discern more high-resolution images, to have kind of a scheme where blacks will be caught more prominently than lighter colors; right?
JM: So let’s go ahead and describe for the listeners a bit of the layout. I know they’re still prototypes at this point, but in its current form, how is – you have a tablet, and then you have a Braille – a set of Braille cells –
DH: Yes.
JM: -- below that. So go ahead and describe that a little bit.
DH: Okay. So the display will have 2400 pins. That’s the tactile display portion. And below that, we have buttons that you can actually control whatever device the Dot Pad is connected to. So it has two arrow buttons, you know, one for left, one for right; and then four middle buttons that you can program to, for example, for one of the chart programs that McGill University created for us is that they use one of the buttons for zooming in and zooming out of the image. So we have those function buttons. And then right below that, we have a 20-cell module that is for metadata for images or any kind of text that the image is representing.
JM: Wow. So you connect this to your iPhone, I assume --
DH: Yes.
JM: -- via Bluetooth.
DH: Yes.
JM: But you also can connect it to other devices as well; right?
DH: Yes. You can connect it to your computer. Right now – so – actually, the program that McGill created is running on a Chrome extension, so connecting it to the computer’s completely a go. And for – right now, we’re actually looking to partner up with Google and Microsoft as well to open up their office suites to the Dot Pad.
JM: So the pad itself, is it – are they just pins, or is there a touch screen as well?
DH: The pad itself is just the pins. But actually, through this conference, we’ve had some great ideas thrown at us about adding a capacitive touch and how simple it would actually be by adding sensors to the corner, say, to add touch. So actually, through this conference, I think we’ve – it’s been a couple years, you know. Everyone’s been away for a couple years, but I think everyone’s really excited to come back and see this community thrive.
JM: You’re showing the Dot Pad here at CSUN –
DH: Yes.
JM: -- and many listeners, by now, are also aware of APH’s efforts with the Dynamic Tactile Display, as they’re calling it.
DH: Um-hmm.
JM: But it’s also using your technology. How does this fit in with what they are doing, or how does it differ?
DH: So the core technology for Dot is the cell. So the cell – I’m sure a lot of – maybe a lot of your listeners also have heard of the Dotwatch. It’s an older product that we have been selling, and the cell inside of there was one of the first versions of the cell that we created. And now, we’re on the D2R, so I think it’s the fourth iteration of the cell. And right now, the refresh rate’s faster, it’s more resilient to dust and other particles, and that cell is going to be powering the DTD project.
JM: Got you. So the time line, though, of that is going to be a couple years out. What is the time line of this?
DH: For the Dot Pad, we’re going to start mass production in September of this year, so 2022, September. And right now, we’re actually working – looking to manufacture and assemble in the States. We’re looking at a spot in Texas, and I think that will really help the logistics and the supply chain. I’m sure a lot of people know that the supply chain is a mess right now.
JM: Yeah.
DH: So we’re looking to alleviate that by being in the States.
JM: And what kind of price point are you hoping for?
DH: For the price point, it’s going to be anywhere from three to ten thousand. The price has not been set yet because of – there’s a lot of different factors that have to go into, including market research as well as controlling the material costs, which is very volatile at this moment.
JM: Absolutely.
DH: Yeah.
JM: It’s my understanding there is also an API for developers as well that might be interested?
DH: Yes. So Apple – if you go to developerdot.dotincor.com, developer, d-e-v-e-l-o-p-e-r, dot dot, d-o-t, i-m-c-o-r-p dot com – I know it’s a little bit confusing because it’s dot and dot.
JM: Right.
DH: Yeah. You’ll be able to find all the open-source SDKs and the API that you can program iOS and MacOS with to connect directly to the Dot Pad.
JM: Awesome. And we will link to that in the show notes as well.
Before we go, you mentioned there is also a kiosk project that you’re working on in Vienna.
DH: Yes. So earlier this year, we actually have begun a POC project with the Vienna international airport. And we’re installing – so previously, what they had in their disability corner was just kind of like a Batman phone, kind of a wooden brick with a red phone. And people would have to come and just wait for help. But the problem was that because of Covid, they had staff shortages. So oftentimes, people couldn’t get help. And also, they had a screen for sign language which was broken at the time we went to visit. So we talked to them, and, you know, they’re very innovative, so they wanted to install Dot kiosks to replace the disability corners. And the Dot kiosk is also, you know, for everyone. It has a touch screen that moves up and down depending on the camera sensors of – so it catches your height, so whatever is the most comfortable height for the screen to be at. And it has a standard 3.5-millimeter jack with text-to-speech, and it also has the Dot Pad within the product so that –
JM: Got you.
DH: -- so that through the maps, you’re able to find, let’s say the restroom or you’re – the gate for check-in. And it’ll have a Braille map showing up on the kiosk.
JM: So it’s the Braille version of the UR here --
DH: Sure.
JM: -- kind of visual kiosks.
DH: Yes.
JM: That’s really cool. Is that something you’re hoping to, obviously, roll out to other locations?
DH: Yes. Actually, JFK is actually watching our project pretty closely, and we’re looking to expand, perhaps to Frankfort or Munich, the neighboring airports, major airports in the area. Right now, Vienna is the first. And we’re also actually working with Arizona State University to do a similar project for their campus buildings.
JM: That’s very interesting to learn about the kiosk as well. So if people want to get information about the Dot Pad, perhaps get on the preorder list whenever that becomes available, what’s the best way to do that?
DH: So there’s – for the Dot Pad, you can send out any questions, any inquiries to inquiry, i-n-q-u-i-r-y at dot incorp.com, d-o-t-i-n-c-o-r-p dot com. And also you can visit our website, dotincorp.com, d-o-t-i-n-c-o-r-p dot com. And also, you can reach me personally at Daniel@dotincorp.com.
JM: Thank you so much, Daniel. Really appreciate it.
DH: Thanks.
For more exclusive coverage, visit blindbargains.com or download the Blind Bargains app for your iOS or Android device.
Blind Bargains audio coverage is presented by the A T Guys, online at atguys.com.
This has been another Blind Bargains audio podcast. Visit blindbargains.com for the latest deals, news, and exclusive content.
This podcast may not be retransmitted, sold, or reproduced without the express written permission of A T Guys.
Copyright 2022.


Listen to the File


File size: 10.9MB
Length: 10:15

Check out our audio index for more exclusive content
Blind Bargains Audio RSS Feed

This content is the property of Blind Bargains and may not be redistributed without permission. If you wish to link to this content, please do not link to the audio files directly.

Category: Shows

No one has commented on this post.

You must be logged in to post comments.

Username or Email:
Password:
Keep me logged in on this computer

Or Forgot username or password?
Register for free

Joe Steinkamp is no stranger to the world of technology, having been a user of video magnification and blindness related electronic devices since 1979. Joe has worked in radio, retail management and Vocational Rehabilitation for blind and low vision individuals in Texas. He has been writing about the A.T. Industry for 15 years and podcasting about it for almost a decade.


Copyright 2006-2024, A T Guys, LLC.