LEARNING TOOLS . These 3D-printed puzzles make learning fun for visually impaired

A new set of toys has arrived to make learning more enjoyable for millions of visually impaired — especially children. Models of rocket, mouse, fish, key, boat, violin, crown, and so on, cover the alphabet, have been created under Fittle, the world’s first 3D printed Braille puzzle.

With this, learning Braille becomes easier than ever. The Fittle project is raising funds to provide 3D printers to communities in developing countries that cannot afford expensive learning tools.

Making this possible and accessible in India is a consortium of ServicePlan Health & Life, LV Prasad Eye Institute and Ravensburger, a leading company making puzzles and educational toys. A range of educational toys has been created by experienced puzzle designers.

‘New avenue’

The existing Braille learning educational tools are either too expensive or not engaging enough to encourage interaction.

To promote the concept and functionality of these puzzles, Fittle will screen its film in theatres managed by the Prasad group. It will also detail how to download the template for printing out the puzzles.

Beula Christy, Head of the institute for Vision Rehabilitation, LVPEI, says: “Fittle opens a new avenue for children with visual impairment to explore the world around them to its closest possible reality. Besides being a motivator to learn Braille, this recreational toy influences overall development through a constructive playtime.”

On a larger scale

The learning opportunities of Fittle are many — beginning with fine-motor activity to enhanced higher level of cognitive functioning such as focussing, problem solving, and concept learning.

With this collaboration LVPEI and Ravensburger expect to bring knowledge and holistic development to children with special needs the world over.

Each puzzle is divided into a number of letters, which are to be ‘solved‘ to arrive the word and an object. A line at the bottom of the puzzle combined with various-shaped connectors, enable the children to find the right combination and understand how to spell simple words such as fish in Braille. Simultaneously, the child gets a sense of the shape of the object, explain the innovators.

The idea behind Fittle was conceived by Tania Jain, a designer from the National Institute of Design in Gandhinagar, under the mentorship of Anthony Vipin Das, Associate Director at the LVPEI during a ‘DIY workshop’ in Hyderabad, organised by the Institute and the Camera Culture Group of Ramesh Raskar from MIT Media Lab recently.

The company, together with their customer base of puzzle enthusiasts around the world, plans to raise funds for 3D printers which will be set up in the regional LVPEI centres to distribute Fittle puzzle for free across the network of over 190 eyecare centres in India, reaching approximately 2.5 million people.

Compared to other Braille-learning tools, Fittle can educate a larger set with the same budget. If $10,000 can provide four digital Braille readers and 200 Braille books, it can source one 3D printer and 16,000 Fittle puzzles, the Institute said.

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