# First-ever Braille smartphone could hit stores this year

Category: Cell Phone Talk

## Post 1 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 28-Apr-2013 12:28:52

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57580976-1/first-ever-braille-smartphone-could-hit-stores-this-year/

## Post 2 by mistressamber87 (That sarcastic smart ass opinionated bitch you wish you didn't have to hear from) on Thursday, 20-Jun-2013 22:34:52

If this really comes, I'd almost have to admit this would be even more cool than my iPhone...and that's saying something, since I really, really really, love my iPhone.
Not because of tracking facial expressions, but actually, maps would be cool, and making more games accessible would be cool. Potentially, we would even be able to read print text that was raised using this technology, which could be cool for those of us who did learn to read print letters if raised or engraved.
Awesome article. Keep us up-to-date on any new releases of information on this!
Best,
Amber

## Post 3 by rusty81 (Zone BBS is my Life) on Thursday, 20-Jun-2013 23:35:19

I bet that this will be really expensive. and I prefer to use mainstream technology simply because it is easier to repair if needed.

## Post 4 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 20-Jun-2013 23:54:40

forget ware i got it, but if i find anything i'll post.
i think i got it from Kim Kamando .

## Post 5 by rdfreak (THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE-BLUE KANGA-KICKIN AUSIE) on Friday, 21-Jun-2013 0:51:09

I know what you're saying and I love my iPhone too but what about being able to feel immages; that could win us over. :)

## Post 6 by SilverLightning (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Friday, 21-Jun-2013 11:51:44

I hate to be down on this, cuz truthfully I wish this was an awesome idea, but I just don't see how it is. In order for the phone to be usable for maps, it would have to be huge in order for us to see the details. A huge cell phone is not portable. Plus, they kept emphasizing that we could touch the person's face on the phone and follow there facial expressions. This raises two questions for me. First of all why in the world would I want to do this? I don't do it in normal conversation, why would I do it over the phone. Second, there are hundreds of facial expressions, I know maybe four of them. We just don't deal with facial expressions as blind people, at least not totally blind people.
I think its great he's trying to help us, but I think he should go in a totally different direction. Invent a smart phone with a built in braille display, that would be useful.

## Post 7 by forereel (Just posting.) on Friday, 21-Jun-2013 14:19:54

I agree with the last post. Also, with a braille display an iPhone or Android phone is braille. This thing will probably be really expensive. An iPhone on contract is affordable for the masses. The displays are expensive, of course, but you don't have to have one necessarily.

## Post 8 by Toonhead71 (move over school!) on Friday, 21-Jun-2013 15:10:18

this is a good point why in hell would I want to touch a person's face? I don't just walk around touching people's faces just so I can tell what they're emotions are at any given second. I also prefer mainstream tech, because we blend in better with society. We always complain about not being integrated into mainstream society, and then you'd see someone walking around with a braille cell phone that probably costs several thousand dollars? And lets not even consider what happens if one of those cells goes bust? You're gonna be without a cell phone for one hell of a long time. So...yeah, thanks, but no thanks i'm sticking to my good old reliable iPhone 5. Nice idea but it's just not realistic.

## Post 9 by Runner229 (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Friday, 21-Jun-2013 18:29:22

Hmmm. Well there is one face I'd like to feel. You know, Rose from the Titanic? Though my hands might want to investigate a bit more than that alone.
Oh Jesus, what am I thinking. She's an old lady now, scratch that. Lol. Sorry I couldn't help myself. Back to the subject, now.

## Post 10 by forereel (Just posting.) on Friday, 21-Jun-2013 19:20:02

Old ladies make the best teachers. Smile.

## Post 11 by rusty81 (Zone BBS is my Life) on Friday, 21-Jun-2013 23:36:58

I agree with other posters, touching peoples faces is downright creepy. sorry, but I'm not a touchy feely person. I know some blind people who do though. well, to each there own. they'll going to love that.

## Post 12 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Friday, 21-Jun-2013 23:39:26

yeah i dont go around touchin faces either.

## Post 13 by dragons lady (Zone BBS Addict) on Saturday, 22-Jun-2013 12:06:08

Braille idea is okay but for the purpose of doing text, not feeling faces. Never liked doing that. Also have to agree, the price of the phone would be outragious.

## Post 14 by dave84 (Zone BBS Addict) on Saturday, 22-Jun-2013 13:56:12

@Forest gump that was pretty funny lol. Interesting idea but like others have said the price for the phone will be very very expensive because it is specialized technology. I don't walk up to someone and ask them if i can touch there face. That would be creepy. So i don't think that would be something used by alot of people.

## Post 15 by starfly (99956) on Saturday, 22-Jun-2013 21:14:52

the Idea is already lying with in android eye-feel is a camra app that takes a picture and uses the vibration motor on an android phone to give a idea of how an image feels. I to would rather keep my nexis7 and Iphone5 then pay out the noze for a phone like this. Both android and IOS offer braille already why invent the wheel over again?

## Post 16 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Saturday, 22-Jun-2013 21:20:28

I've never heard of someone actually touching faces. Sounds like a good way to get punched, bitten, scratched, or anything else.

## Post 17 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 22-Jun-2013 22:14:06

Or Taken home. You touch the right face right, and?

## Post 18 by rusty81 (Zone BBS is my Life) on Saturday, 22-Jun-2013 23:33:59

I know some that touch faces and to some private parts using there blindness as an excuse. they are disgusting.

## Post 19 by rdfreak (THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE-BLUE KANGA-KICKIN AUSIE) on Tuesday, 25-Jun-2013 1:29:59

Cody I agree with you and it's something I also thought about myself; the fact that we don't experience facial expressions so yeh having thought about it further, I'm not sure either.

## Post 20 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Tuesday, 25-Jun-2013 1:31:28

maybe its cause they are horny.... but stil tha'ts no reason to do that.

## Post 21 by jen91_09 (777) on Sunday, 11-Aug-2013 15:14:08

This sounds rediculous. Who the heck would go around feeling faces. That's weird, creepy, and just would freak people out. Seriously? People do that? I thought that was just sighted people crap in movies haha! Not me! lol

## Post 22 by chelslicious (like it or not, I'm gonna say what I mean. all the time.) on Sunday, 11-Aug-2013 16:07:13

I don't touch people's faces as it is, cause, as was said, facial expressions don't mean anything to blind people. plus, as was also said, there's no need for a phone like this, when there are Braille displays available for the iPhone. and, that isn't even factoring in the outrageous price this one would undoubtedly cost.

## Post 23 by illumination (Darkness is history.) on Sunday, 11-Aug-2013 19:17:33

There are already certain phones with Braille displays on them, like the BraillePlus 18. And as far as touching people's faces to get an idea of their expressions, that sounds a bit disturbing. lol

## Post 24 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 11-Aug-2013 19:18:34

the new Braille 2Go will also have this phone option.

## Post 25 by Siriusly Severus (The ESTJ 1w9 3w4 6w7 The Taskmaste) on Sunday, 11-Aug-2013 21:59:55

feeling faces... just... hell fucking no!
I guess so, because some sighted people have actually asked if I'd like to feel there face or not. So, I suppose some sick blindy somewhere has. what a shame too. and it's like: do I even remotely seem like such a weirdo? so, erm... no thanks? it's like what the fuck?
but feeling faces on the phone is just as strange. I want to stay as far away as possible to that blindy who touches people's faces.
I heard those kinds of phones are suppose to be bulky too. and agreed about the expensiveness. Also, I carry enough weird stuff and I carry a lot usually so no thanks! don't need another odd special looking thing.
I don't need to encourage some people's perception that we all need special phones, thank you very much.

## Post 26 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 11-Aug-2013 22:30:15

if we choose to use a phone with specialized software, so be it. but the touchin faces or other things.. nah.

## Post 27 by starfly (99956) on Monday, 12-Aug-2013 12:59:40

we have two accessible platforms that run on phones and support external braile displays, not sure why a person would want a braille smart phone. Hmm I will just stick with my android and Iphone5 but who ever gets this phone have fun!!.