Indian Guy Creates “Manovue” For Visually Impaired People

Most of us are lucky to be able to see with our eyes, but for other people who are born partially or completely blind, they don’t have that kind of privilege.

To assist blind people in reading, Louis Braille invented the Braille system in 1824. However, in the 21st century, this system has numerous disadvantages. For example, Braille is difficult to learn, and Braille books are not always available.

To make reading simpler for blind people, 23-year-old Roopam Sharman made use of technology and invented a new reading method for the blind community. Sharman invented Manovue, which is a digital glove. With this glove, users can scan their surroundings, and everything will become more disability-friendly.

In an interview with Indiatimes, Roopam Sharma share some details about his invention, from its idea to how to turn it into an affordable reality. After getting blindfolded for around 30 minutes back in 2015 and his visit to a Delhi blind school, Roopam realized how difficult it was for visually impaired people to live without any assistance.

Although Braille was invented, in India, the number of Braille literate community is less than 1%. Roopam said:

Manovue is the first wearable visual intelligent assistant in the world. The world Manovue is a combination of Mano; a Spanish word means Hand and Vue; a French word means Vision. The user wears Manovue on their hand and points at any printed text. The device then reads out loud about what is written. Manovue is an affordable technology that will replace the century-old Braille language. This new technology brings to the visually impaired community employability and empowerment.

Besides blind people, Manovue can also benefit those who have dyslexia or are illiterate, tourists, people recovering from brain trauma, children learning the first language, and second language learners. Patients suffering from ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) can also use Manovue for distraction free learning and reading experience.

At the moment, the low-end model is $28 (about Rs 1,935). Roopam continued,

By 2020 or sooner, the product should be available on the market. Roopam was listed on the list of 100 Global Thinkers of Foreign Policy for his invention.