Num2Braille : A braille calculator

Abstract: This thesis attempts to answer how a “braille-only” calculator can be constructed and what needs consideration. An attempt to create such a device has been made. The underlying purpose is the poor selection of braille devices readily available in the market. Braille literacy is very low and the development of easy to use devices that utilize braille actively might encourage the learning of the language. A new design for a braille display, which is the display of the calculator, is proposed and a prototype has been built to test it. The first prototype is promising, albeit impractical and quite large. It functions as a calculator but it requires manual calibration upon startup to set the braille wheels to their starting positions.