Yash Mehta
8th Grade, Durham Academy
Durham, NC
On a visit to a school for the blind in Old Delhi, India, Yash realized that none of the students were using modern electronic braille readers — they were far too expensive. Yash decided he would try to build an inexpensive electronic braille reader that anyone could afford. He wanted to build it for less than $50.
Using Motors To Simulate Braille
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Project Background
Yash used tiny rotating motors to poke users’ fingers in braille letter patterns. He tested with two different sizes of motor, arranging six of each motor in three rows, and experimenting with the distance between the motors. Yash connected the motors to an Arduino, which moved the motors based on text from a computer. His results showed that the smaller motors could not withstand the pressure of fingers, while larger ones could. He also compared the distances between motors to see which allowed people to read braille with accuracy.
Testing his device with students at the school in Old Delhi, Yash showed that readers were most accurate when the motors were 6 millimeters apart, and that they could read his Braille motor-letters with 86 percent accuracy compared to printed braille. His current model cost only $35, and Yash has filed a patent for his device.
Beyond the Project
Yash has been playing the piano since he was three. He took up fencing when he was eight. “I love fencing because it’s not just a physical game, but mainly a mental game,” he says. “Thinking of what your opponent will do in the next point makes all the difference to win the match.” While he had the usual early dreams of being a firefighter, now Yash would like to be an electrical engineer. “The journey from concept to creation, fueled by innovation and creativity is what entices me the most.”
