A watch for blind people

[dipsydoodle]

The Bradley Timepiece, a watch designed for blind people and named after a Paralympian gold medallist who lost his sight in Afghanistan, is up for design of the year at London's Design Museum. But it's mostly being bought by sighted people, writes Chris Stokel-Walker.

The watch has a stark, circular titanium face. There are no hands. There are no numbers. Around a groove in the centre a ball-bearing rotates to mark the minutes. Around the edge of the watch, another ball bearing rotates to tell the hours.

The Bradley was designed for the use of blind people, the latest in a long line of efforts to help those without sight efficiently tell the time.

Designer Hyungsoo Kim was in a lecture hall at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in September 2011 when a neighbouring student asked him the time. "My classmate is visually impaired, and had been for 10 years," explains Kim.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26920782

[Arkansas Granny]

1. That's a real neat design, but the idea is not new.

My dad and several other blind people I knew had watches with the numbers raised or embossed in Braille so they could be read with the fingertips. They came in pocket watch and wrist watch models. The crystal would open and you could feel which numbers the hands were pointing to.

[dipsydoodle]

2. I've seen such things in films.

Thanks for the picture of one such.

[66 dmhlt]

3. Just placed my order ...

Unfortunately the great price as a Kickstarter "purchase" are closed.
But if you order now (and I think before May 30th) you get $80 off.
I ordered the Titanium/Steel Mesh Band model, and it came to $201.50, including S&H
The Story:
http://www.eone-time.com/
To Order:
http://www.eone-time.com/shop.php
DISCLAIMER: I have NO FINANCIAL CONNECTION or INTEREST in the product