Overview
Braille Circuits addresses a persistent gap in daily life and STEM education: electrical circuits are taught and represented almost entirely through visual diagrams, leaving visually impaired individuals without access to fundamental concepts that are core to modern technology. The project develops a system that translates electrical circuit components and their values into Braille letters, numerals, and symbolic raised (embossed) figures — allowing visually impaired individuals to "read" circuits through touch.
Beyond circuit diagrams themselves, the approach extends to labelling device buttons and control panels in Braille, helping visually impaired users operate electrical devices more effectively and independently in everyday life.
Key Aspects
- A conversion system mapping circuit components and values to Braille letters, numbers, and tactile symbols
- Raised-figure (embossed) representations of standard circuit elements
- Braille labelling of device buttons and control panels for daily-life accessibility
- Prototype development followed by user testing with visually impaired participants, with iterative improvement based on their feedback
- Potential adaptation into embossed textbooks for special education centres
- Low-cost design using locally sourced materials, with identified commercialization potential
Method & Target Audience
The team began by learning the Braille alphabet and how it is used, then identified the circuit components to be represented and prepared their tactile forms. The planned development path runs from material sourcing and Braille labelling through to physical prototypes tested in real-world conditions — with user tests conducted with visually impaired participants, whose feedback directly shapes refinements. The project is designed around the principles of accessibility and inclusivity, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
Braille Circuits emphasizes ease of use, safe operation, low cost, and integration with technology — supporting visually impaired individuals' adaptation to the digital world while raising broader social awareness of assistive technology.
Program Context
Developed by team Terra Reform for TEKNOFEST's Barrier-Free Living Technologies Competition (Engelsiz Yaşam Teknolojileri Yarışması) at high school level, where accessibility and inclusive design are the central evaluation criteria. The project passed through the competition's formal pre-evaluation report stage.