Livescribe for Blind or Visually Impaired Students

Limited access to graphical materials is a problem for many blind or visually impaired students. With the Livescribe smartpen, creation of these resources is low-cost, portable, and easy to execute. Students and teachers can create tactile diagrams, maps, or study guides in or outside of the classroom.

The smartpen provides raised-line figures with audio information about the diagram elements by tracking the page position and sound recording. This type of technology allows students to have access to all types of materials. By adding Braille characters to their Livescribe notebook page, students can read along with their hands while having a full audio description when needed. The smartpen includes all the hardware and software necessary to allow audio playback and tactile graphics can be created by using a raised-line drawing kit or an APH “tong” tool. Livescribe sound stickers can also add audio to existing materials. For blind or visually impaired students, understanding graphs or visuals can be difficult if not impossible. The Livescribe smartpen aims to help make graphics more accessible for the blind and visually impaired.

Do you know a blind or visually impaired student using the Livescribe smartpen? Share your story with us below!