Techshare exhibition hosts some of the coolest digitally inclusive devices

Techshare held its fifth conference and exhibition attracting more than thousand people on the very first day. The exhibition saw some of the most unique and innovative digitally inclusive products. While some are at their protype stage, some at pilot stage, pothers have already become a hit in the market. Here’s a look at some of devices at display.

The prototype for India’s first affordable Braille device that helps the blind to read any documents from an external hard disk is ready and it is being built into a product now by the Sapien Group.

“Though there are numerous devices in the market, none are below Rs.1 lakh price range. This device once ready will be launched in the market at a price of Rs. 15000,” said Paul D’Souza, co-founder of the device.

The device reads the word file and creates the Braille version of the document on the Braille reader.

Accenture’s current project for digital inclusion is an app that increases indoor navigation for blind in places where there is no GPS available.

Whether you want to go to the nearest ATM, washroom, supermarket or to a particular stall, iBuddy will tell you how many places are there, how many steps away it is and in which direction.

“Someone’s 10 steps are another person’s 20 steps. For that we have a corrective mechanism too that will tell you to revert if you have crossed that place,” said Gaurav Mathur, co-inventor of this idea in Accenture.

If there is a fire in your building, this app will guide you through the nearest fire exit. If you need help, this app will guide you to the nearest CCTV from where you can signal for help.

A simple Bluetooth device needs to be installed along the pathways inside the building. And all the user needs to do is install the app and the data broadcasted via this device will guide you through. The interesting part is the cost of maintenance and installation of the device is quite low as it has a batter like that in a watch, is operational for 2-3 years and costs just Rs. 20.

Accenture is already in talks with a banking institution, which they did not disclose at this point. Mathur said the device is facing some legal issues right now as this might invade the privacy by disclosing the location of the person. Hence, there is a delay of the market launch.

Accenture’s inclusive hiring started in 2010 and has hired as many as 800 employees till date.

IIT Delhi’s current project aims at increasing transport accessibility of the visually impaired. The bus identification system will tell you what the bus route is and where the entrance of the bus is via two simple buttons, query and select.

The pilot project has been tested on Mumbai streets.

IIT-Delhi students also developed a book of maps and mathematics in Braille language.

(Image credits: indiatimes)