B.my.jet is based on a powder deposition system. This technology allows depositing well-controlled amount of powder onto a surface in a wide range of quantities and sizes. This is achieved using controlled vibrations, which results in making the powder behave like a liquid. Without fixation, the deposited powder structure is normally mechanically vulnerable (which may be acceptable in several applications such as dosing in chemistry), but in this case the deposited parcels need to be fixed. We use a special method for the thermal fixation of fusible powder on the surface, which results in a certain solidification, but the general shape of the deposited material does not change radically.
The powder, which we call “dry ink” can be easily added by replacing a so-called powder cartridge. It contains sufficient amount powder to print 300 pages (on average). The cartridge is designed for “blind usage” so it can be changed using a very easy procedure. The powder level is checked automatically and acoustically alarm if replacement need.
An open source braille translator software is integrated which allows b.my.jet to convert text to printed Braille instantly. Liblouis software suite provides an open-source braille translator, back-translator and formatter for a large number of languages and braille codes. It is a set of libraries designed for use in any of a number of applications, both free and commercial. It is written in C so that it does not require a runtime environment and hence can be used in applications written in high-level languages such as Java and Python.
The Book-scan function has been ergonomically designed for the specific target group. When normal book-scanners are used for scanning books, the user has to hold the book in place during the process. This can be very uncomfortable and difficult for a blind person. We designed a folded surface so the book is fixed and does not need to be held in place during scanning. Similar solutions could only be found in industrial book scanners, so this clever solution puts this advanced industrial technology in the home of blind people.
The primary users for b.my.jet are the visually impaired people but we have collected other possible use cases for education and alternative applications enhancing the societal impact of the development.
• Braille/Moon printing
• Simple graph printing
• Map printing
• Diagrams printing
• Photo printing
• Photocopying text
• Photocopying graphics Education
• Creating embossed art