How one student is on a mission to develop a smartphone for the visually challenged
Praveen Kumar’s 24Droid will be designed in a way that it aids not just the blind, but also senior citizens who find using smartphones cumbersome.
Twenty-one year old Praveen Kumar of Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu has been working on developing an affordable smartphone for the visually-challenged. The device called 24Droid is proposed to be priced at an amount as low as Rs 10,000.
Inspired by his Head of Department's advice of doing something for the less privileged, the third-year B Tech IT student decided to build a software application 'Android Eye' in July last year. He even launched it on Google Play Store in September to rave reviews. “My HOD told me that I will be doing industry-oriented work for the rest of my life, but at least in my student life, I should contribute something to society,” says Praveen, who has launched over 20 apps in the last few years. Android Eye provides a completely non-visual interface and re-purposes a touch screen as a “talking” touch-sensitive surface.
Praveen’s 24Droid will be designed in a way that it aids not just the blind, but also senior citizens who find using smartphones cumbersome. He shares that such an effort is unprecedented in the country. To build this phone's prototype and improve the software, Android Eye needs funds. You can help Praveen help the visually-challenged by donating on Milaap.