Skip to main content

MIT is building a cheap handheld device for translating Braille instantly

Thanks to the power of modern machine translation tools, the ability to instantly translate from one language to another is commonplace. Due to the advancement of technologies like deep learning, it recently got a whole lot better, too. However, a group of six researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) — calling themselves Team Tactile — are interested in doing something far less common: Creating a device that can carry out a real-time translation of text to Braille. The results could be a game-changer for millions of people around the world who are either blind or have low vision.

“We are creating the first dedicated text-to-braille converter to give people who are visually impaired greater access to the large amount of printed text information encountered in daily life,” Grace Li, a researcher on the project from MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, told Digital Trends. “With our device, people who are visually impaired can take an image of any printed text and immediately read the resulting braille translation.”

Recommended Videos

The Tactile device features a scanning mechanism with which users can take a photo of a particular image they wish to translate; anything from a textbook to a restaurant menu. Optical character recognition (OCR) tech is then used to extract the text, the device translates it into Braille, and the lines of text appear on a physical display, which uses pins that move up and down to form the Braille characters.

At present, the device only captures a small portion of a document but in the final product, the team wants to be able to apply the technology to imaging an entire document.

“The ultimate goal with real-time translation is braille on demand,” Li continued. “We are aiming to have our final prototype ready for manufacture within the next one or two years. We will then be working with manufacturers and distributors to bring our device to market the following year.”

Team Tactile is hoping the finished device will cost users less than $100, making it significantly cheaper than any other comparable solution on the market.

Luke Dormehl
I'm a UK-based tech writer covering Cool Tech at Digital Trends. I've also written for Fast Company, Wired, the Guardian…
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more
Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

Read more