Braille Building Block Prototypes

The video link below provides insights into my initial vision and thoughts on this project. I cover background information on products available for visually impaired individuals related to my topic, building blocks.

Vision Video

Initial Experience Prototype Plan

The actual prototype that I plan to develop will be plastic building blocks in the style of Lego that incorporate braille or other tactile cues. I will likely use the open-source software, Blender, to create the images of the plastic blocks I would like to incorporate into a simple building set. I then plan to utilize a 3D printer to create a physical prototype. At this time, I feel a simplistic house design would serve as a practical starting point for a prototype set. One reason I feel a house design would be so effective is the different geometric shapes present in a basic house design: triangle roof, square structure, rectangular door, etc. This simplistic initial design can be expanded upon and will provide a tactile experience for the visually impaired enabling them to enjoy an experience that has been limited to a sighted audience in the past.

Implemented Experience Prototype Activity

Refer to Step 5: Process

Please select this link to view the 3D printing of one of the sails for the boat prototypes.

3D Prototype Printing

I wanted to develop a design for building blocks that is inclusive for individuals who are visually impaired. I feel it is important to promote inclusivity wherever possible.

First up……my Big Design Question.

One of my hobbies is building Lego sets. It’s entertaining, it’s a tactile experience, and it’s fun to appreciate the final results. It also gives a sense of accomplishment to complete a Lego set. Lego can teach many things. It can teach patience, ingenuity, creativity, motor skills, and a basic understanding of geometry and structural integrity. The motorized and programmable sets also teach science, engineering, and programming. Rather than focusing specifically on Lego, I’m going to use the more general term, building blocks. Building blocks are something that have been designed for all ages to enjoy. However, there are some handicaps that prevent enjoyment of this hobby. One such handicap is visual impairment. More and more is being done to improve inclusivity and accommodate other-abled individuals. So, I wondered, could the same be done with building blocks? I want to ask the question - How can we make building blocks inclusive for visually impaired individuals?

Now for a little Background Information.

While there are several building block products that are intended for the visually impaired, I was unable to find any that incorporate instructions for building directly on the bricks or blocks themselves. I feel the building instructions could be conveyed entirely through tactile means. Some of the major challenges would be how to convey the instructions on the blocks in a clear and succinct manner. Naturally, the use of braille comes to mind. However, perhaps an additional method that conveys the instructions should be included for younger individuals and those who are not yet familiar with braille. The main intent of this project is to promote inclusivity as stated previously. I also believe that it is important to give other-abled individuals an opportunity to experience the educational benefits of building blocks that I also mentioned earlier.

Five related sources:

LEGO Building Instructions for the Blind People

This is an independent site that provides text-based instructions for the visually impaired. The visually impaired individuals can use existing assistive technologies to follow along. A sighted friend or family would still have to assist with sorting the pieces for the set.

Everything You Need To Know About LEGO Braille Bricks | Official LEGO® Shop US

Another available product is through the official Lego site. Braille Bricks. Braille Bricks are compatible with all other Lego products. The braille bricks come in educational kits and are intended for younger children to help them learn the braille symbols for letters and numbers while learning to attach bricks together. These sets are currently available in English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish.

Nonprofit empowers blind people build LEGO sets on their own

This site is designed to provide information to those seeking available building block products and resources for the visually impaired. This article addresses the two sites I mentioned previously.

LEGO® Audio & Braille Instructions – A pilot experience

As with Bricks for the Blind, this official Lego page offers Lego audio and braille building instructions for many current Lego sets available. The sets range from junior sets through adult. The available options are screen reader, Lego audio, and Braille reader.

Block Center for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired - Teaching Students with Visual Impairments

This particular article addresses block play on a site geared toward teaching students with visual impairments. In the article, the author discusses low vision students studying Lego assembly directions with magnifiers. The author also points out how block play incorporates math skills, classification by size and shape, balance, problem solving, and social relationships.

Five current products for the visually impaired:

Tactile Graphics for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

These are products available for blind and low vision students and contain tactile graphics to help students learn concepts that might be more difficult to grasp outside of visual inputs.

Dot Pad tactile display makes images touchable for visually impaired users | TechCrunch

This product was made to meet a great need for students and those in the business world who are visually impaired to have access to the same information as their sighted peers. The Dot pad translates text to braille and even offers tactile representations of images.

Braille "Twister" – Paths to Literacy

These are additional products available for children and youth with little to no vision. They are tactile games and toys intended to help young people learn braille.

How to Make Tactile Graphics for Blind or Visually Impaired Students? - AEL Data

This article provides instructions and products available to create tactile graphics for blind and visually impaired students encouraging STEM accessibility.

Developmental Toys & Activities for Children Who are Blind or Visually Impaired - Amber Bobnar

This is actually a video created by a mother of a visually impaired child. She speaks about many toy and product options that can assist in learning braille and other concepts through tactile experiences.

What is my Big Vision?

To answer the question, “How can we make building blocks inclusive for visually impaired individuals?” I developed a prototype building blocks set that incorporates tactile information that enables visually impaired individuals to have the opportunity to be included in an activity enjoyed by so many who are not visually disabled.

Who

The desired participants for the stakeholder activity were children and adults, both sighted and visually impaired who were interested in participating in a building blocks exercise to test a product design intended for those with impaired vision. Unfortunately, the turnout for the activity was limited due to Spring Break schedules and inclement weather. All participants were sighted adults who wore provided blindfolds to simulate visual impairment. All had previous experience with building blocks, such as Lego and Mega Bloks. No one in attendance knew braille.

I would like to conduct this stakeholder activity again in the hopes of having more in attendance including children. I would also like an opportunity to test my prototype design on visually impaired individuals and those with an existing knowledge of braille.

This is a link to the video showcasing the results of the stakeholder activity. Although I had initially planned to provide a house building block prototype, it was not completed in time for the stakeholder activity day. However, I did print a house building block prototype after the fact to include in my project documentation.

Stakeholder Activity

How

Step 1: Reach out to residents in my community through the community Facebook page. This is the post:

Hello, neighbors! I am a senior at Arizona State University and working on a capstone project. I am LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS (adult and children) to try out some simple 3D builds I created with braille lettering on them. The design is meant to be more inclusive for those who are visually impaired. You do not have to be visually impaired or know braille, although having someone attend with knowledge of braille would be very welcome to provide valuable feedback. Again, this is a simple hands-on, family-friendly activity. I plan to set up the activity at the pool this Friday, March 21st, at 11am. Please let me know by this Thursday if you plan to attend and how many will be attending. Thank you so much!

I also intended to reach out to members of my Church group through the Church app. However, our group meeting for the week I intended to conduct the activity was cancelled.

Step 2: I provided a time and place for the activity for those who agreed to participate. I gave a verbal statement in my script rather than a consent form that no private information would be included in my written results and no faces of individuals would be included in my video.

Step 3: I gathered my 3D-printed prototype materials, my list of questions for the participants, phone to use for filming, and set up the activity area.

The following is the script I developed for the stakeholder activity:

Hello. I am Anthony Chiado. I am a Media Arts and Sciences major at Arizona State University. I am conducting this activity as part of my senior capstone project. I will be observing and filming. Filming will consist of hands interacting with the models only. I will make any necessary edits to the video if part of someone’s face ends up in the shot. I am also recording comments and replies to questions. However, comments and replies will be submitted textually, and all sounds will be removed from the video. The completed video can be made available to you upon request. The purpose of my capstone project is to address inclusivity with building block designs, particularly in regard to those with visual impairment.

First of all, how many of you have experience with building blocks like Lego or Mega Bloks or anything similar? Do any of you know braille? There are currently a few products available for those who are visually impaired. Lego has a product geared toward children to assist them in learning braille. The Lego bricks have braille letters and braille numbers printed on top of the individual bricks so children can play games to help them learn braille. There are also two sites available that offer braille and audio versions of Lego building instructions. However, a sighted family member or friend still has to sort the Lego bricks for the visually impaired individual. So, my idea is to include the building instructions on the elements themselves. Each kit would include a completed model with braille lettering and the individual pieces with the corresponding braille lettering. Therefore, you could be new to braille or completely unfamiliar with braille and still be able to interact with these sets. At least, that’s what we’re going to test here today. Now, these are simplistic 3D printed models and pieces. At this time, they don’t have the typical Lego/Mega Bloks interlocking brick system, but, rather, Velcro. They should work for what we’re trying to accomplish today.

Are there any questions so far?

Each of you that is participating will receive the completed model for feeling the braille as reference. Then you will find the corresponding piece from the center of the table where all the pieces will be mixed together. In addition to that, you will be blindfolded. This is just for fun, and we’re not going for speed records here.

Are there any questions in regard to the instructions?

Everyone take a minute or two to familiarize yourself with the model.

Please apply your blindfold.

I have placed the elements in the middle of the table. You can begin building.

Step 4: I welcomed all participants, and they were given an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the prototypes and the process for the activity. Each person was given a blindfold when it was their turn to interact with the prototypes. I filmed the participants and compiled some video footage of several of the interactions with the prototypes.

Step 5: I asked the following questions:

What did you like about this activity?

What did you dislike about this activity?

Do you feel the braille writing was easy to identify between the model and the individual elements?

These are basic models, but do you think this could work on a smaller scale, meaning smaller elements?

Do you think that this method would work in helping visually impaired individuals learn braille?

Do you think a product such as this would improve inclusivity?

Any additional questions or comments?

Step 6: Everyone was content with their interaction and did not desire to repeat the process.

Step 7: I collected answers to questions and compiled the video footage.

What

Answers to questions:

Who has experience with Lego, Mega Bloks, or anything similar?

All participants.

Do any of you know braille?

No.

Are there any questions so far?

How long does this take?

Answer - A matter of minutes.

Are there any questions in regard to the instructions?

Can we see how we did?

Answer – Yes. After you complete the activity.

What did you like about this activity?

It was easy.

It was straight-forward.

It was fun.

The pieces were large and easy to handle.

What did you dislike about this activity?

The Velcro.

The size difference in projects.

Being unable to see.

Do you feel the braille writing was easy to identify between the model and the individual elements?

Yes.

These are basic models, but do you think this could work on a smaller scale, meaning smaller elements?

For adults or older children, yes.

The boat size was good.

Regular Lego might be too small.

For those who know braille, yes.

Do you think that this method would work in helping visually impaired individuals learn braille?

Yes, if design and letters are explained ahead of time.

Do you think a product such as this would improve inclusivity?

Yes.

Any additional questions or comments?

1. Would actual designs have regular Lego or Mega Bloks attachments?

Answer – The intent is that if these prototypes were developed into actual sets, they would have clutch powers (ability to connect together securely.)

2. Are these actual braille symbols?

Answer – Yes. The cone of the rocket has the braille symbol for the letter “C,” the white section below

the cone has the braille symbols for “S2,” which stands for stage 2, the white section beneath stage 2

has the braille symbols for “S1,” which stands for stage 1, and the hexagonal piece beneath stage 1

has the braille symbol for “E” for engine. The blue base of the boat has the braille symbol for “B” for

boat, and the sail has the braille symbol for "S” for sail.

3. Comment - Flexibility to build other things with the elements would be nice.

Insights

As stated above, time did not allow for me to print a third prototype for this activity, which I really wanted to include. The rocket ship has four elements, and the boat has two elements. I created a prototype of a house build after the stakeholder activity as well that contained three elements. I created the elements for each prototype in Tinkercad.

Resizing and braille lettering were implemented in Blender before being sliced for printing in Wiibuilder 2.

I agree that including instructions and an explanation of the braille lettering with each set would be advisable, perhaps a blended mode of plain text and braille format.

I think smaller elements than those present in the rocket ship prototype would be better, but larger than standard Lego size. I think the elements of the house prototype strike a fairly good balance in terms of scale.

According to my research, I also think bright contrasting colors in addition to braille are best to use for those with low vision.

Aditya Bikkani. “How to Make Tactile Graphics for Blind or Visually Impaired Students? – AEL Data.” AEL Data, 23 May 2023, aeldata.com/make-tactile-graphics-for-blind-or-visually-impaired-students/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.

“Block Center for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.” Teaching Students with Visual Impairments, 2024, www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com/block-play.html. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.

Cradick, Susie. “Tactile Graphics for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.” Pinterest, 17 Apr. 2020, www.pinterest.com/pin/530580399853102622/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.

Coldewey, Devin. “Dot Pad Tactile Display Makes Images Touchable for Visually Impaired Users.” TechCrunch, 10 Mar. 2022, techcrunch.com/2022/03/10/dot-pad-tactile-display-makes-images-touchable-for-visually-impaired-users/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.

Davies, Rachael. “Nonprofit Helps Blind People Build LEGO Sets Independently.” Brick Fanatics, 30 May 2024, www.brickfanatics.com/nonprofit-blind-people-lego-independently/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.

“Developmental Toys & Activities for Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired – Amber Bobnar.” Www.youtube.com, www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0Q1aPNG4T8. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.

“Everything You Need to Know about LEGO Braille Bricks.” Lego.com, 2020, www.lego.com/en-us/braille-bricks/everything-you-need-to-know?CMP=AFC-AffiliateUS-/jZHTpnCvx8-3829940-1606623-10. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.

LEGO® Audio & Braille Instructions – a Pilot Experience. legoaudioinstructions.com/. “LEGO Building Instructions for the Blind People.” Bricks for the Blind, 18 Feb. 2025, bricksfortheblind.org/instructions/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.

Rosemary. “Braille “Twister” – Paths to Literacy.” Pinterest, 30 Oct. 2018, www.pinterest.com/pin/759349187155297465/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.