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Fittle: A Novel Braille Toy
Tania Jain1, Beula Christy2, Anthony Vipin Das3,4
1National Institute of Design, Gandhinagar, India.
Summary
This study introduces Fittle, a 3D-printed Braille puzzle designed to teach children with visual impairments. Pilot testing showed that with instructions, users could quickly learn to solve the puzzle and read Braille.
Area of Science:
- Engineering
- Education
- Assistive Technology
Background:
- Toys for children with visual impairments are scarce.
- There is a need for innovative educational tools for children with blindness and profound visual impairment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel Braille toy using 3D printing technology.
- To create an educational tool for teaching Braille to visually impaired children.
Main Methods:
- Developed Fittle, a 3D-printed puzzle with embossed Braille letters and tactile object contours.
- Created a companion smartphone application, 'Sound of Fittle'.
- Conducted pilot testing with visually impaired participants to assess puzzle-solving time and Braille identification.
Main Results:
- Seven participants (1 adult, 6 children) were tested.
- The average time to solve the puzzle decreased by 2.5 times after receiving instructions.
- All participants successfully fitted and read the embossed Braille on the Fittle puzzle.
Conclusions:
- Fittle is a novel, 3D-printed Braille toy with educational potential.
- The 'Sound of Fittle' app provides an auditory experience for associated words.
- Fittle designs and the application are open-source, allowing free access and production for anyone with a 3D printer.
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