The DOT Braille Smart Watch project has won the Grand LIA for Design at the 2016 London International Awards. Developed in South Korea, DOT the first Braille Smartwatch sets out to provide an interactive device for blind and visually impaired people, to be launched later this year. Online at dotincorp.com, the patented DOT Active Braille Technology reduces size, weight and price by more than ten times compared to existing digital Braille reading devices which rely on piezo-electricity.
DOT is connected to the smartphone via Bluetooth and can receive any information in text-form, from any app or service – e.g. notifications, texts, directions. It has a crown and two buttons for input – e.g. quick reply, accept calls, remote control. DOT comes with full smartwatch functionality: time, timer, alarm, stopwatch, gyroscope and accelerometer. It’s made from superlight durable aluminum, the battery lasts for 7 days and it costs $290.