Drawing in the Dark: Low-Cost Drawing Board for the Blind

Low-Cost Drawing Board for the blind is developed for the first blind Engineering student studying Engineering Drawing in August 2016, and more importantly for general visually-impaired users to explore concepts traditionally taught by sight and to communicate with blind/sighted users with affordable, precise, easy-to-edit drawings, reaching the whole country where previously imported, expensive technology cannot. Requirements are, from most important to least, (1) easy to draw/edit; (2) use raised lines and several textures for easy navigation; (3) safe; (4) strong, of sufficient size, lightweight; and (5) affordable and easy to produce. Requirements are fulfilled by developing three 10x10-in. layered drawing boards made of drilled cardboard, punctured corrugated plastic, and Styrofoam structure supported with cardboard. Differently-textured yarns used as three line types in Engineering Drawing are fixed to drilled holes and punctured plastic by pushing yarns into holes with tools like carved bamboo rods. Yarns are trapped to punctured plastic and stay in place if they are not pulled. One set (3 boards) weigh 1.0 kg, cost less than $7 and can be reused endlessly, with current 90-minute/board hand-assembly time. Further developments include making isometric-view boards; developing more educational, communicational uses for general users; testing with both group of users and adjusting accordingly; and using sustainable, locally-sourced materials.