Graphiti App - An Intersection of Technology and Accessibility
Introduction
In an era of technological innovation, the Graphiti App project demonstrates the power of technology addressing social responsibility by aiding visually impaired individuals in understanding their surroundings. Developed during an internship at ARD Corporation, the project leverages Microsoft Azure, Java, JavaFX, and Maven to create a revolutionary tactile graphics display device.
Project Overview
Core Components
- Graphiti: A multi-level tactile touch display rendering images as tactile representations
- GraphitiDriver.java: Enables data communication and pixel transmission to the Graphiti device
- VoiceSynthesizer.java: Converts text to speech using FreeTTS library
- JavaFX-based User Interface: Allows image upload and interactive feedback
Technical Implementation
The application works by:
- Uploading an image through the JavaFX GUI
- Sending the image to Azure Computer Vision API
- Receiving a comprehensive image description
- Converting the description to speech
- Generating tactile representation using bounding box data
Technologies Used
- Graphiti Tactile Display
- Microsoft Azure
- Azure Computer Vision API
- Java
- JavaFX
- Maven
- FreeTTS
- JUnit5
Impact and Future
The project bridges digital experiences for visually impaired individuals, offering a new way to "see" through touch and sound. Future iterations could include real-time object detection and enhanced tactile resolution.
Key Quote
"Every line of code, every compiled module echoes a clear mission - to render the world more accessible, one tactile pixel at a time."