Not only did he-and others who joined his pursuit-want to develop a way of telling time that was functional and discreet, but he also wanted to develop a watch that was different in a positive way, a watch that was, as the company logo says today: "beautiful, functional, and inclusive." Moreover, he wanted a watch that wasn't exclusively designed for blind people, but rather, a watch that everyone, including blind people, could enjoy. A blind person, it seemed to Hyungsoo Kim, had as much right to check the time discreetly as anyone else. The blind student had a talking watch, but also had enough social savvy not to press its button and thus bark the time (and the fact that he was monitoring it) to everyone within hearing. When Hyungsoo Kim was a student at MIT, it troubled him that a friend and classmate who happened to be blind had to ask others for the time. In this month of celebrating braille and all things tactile, I am exploring with you whether or not this Bradley Timepiece is a welcome innovation for readers of braille everywhere-as well as for those who know nothing at all about the six-dot literacy system. And beneath it: "Designed to touch and see." "The Bradley Timepiece," the top line announced. The possibility was confirmed when, as the gift-wrap fell away, my fingers touched lovely, Grade 2 braille on the top of the box. A rectangular box, about eight inches long and two inches wide, it had a certain heft that signaled something elegant might rest within. It was Christmas 2017, and my daughter was especially excited about one particular gift as she placed it in my hands. there are surprisingly few timepieces for the blind out there, and eone really has a fantastic opportunity in this, not just to make a beautiful product-which this is-, but to make something that really helps people.The thrill I felt when first unwrapping the package is one that will resonate with any lifelong reader of braille. I'd say this is a good Version 1.0, and it makes for a stylish accessory for the sighted, but it needs practical refinement to be an everyday watch for the blind - and it *absolutely* needs these refinements. i'm sure there are at least half-a-dozen design alternatives to avoid a blind person on their hands and knees searching for tiny screws in the carpet under the table. or maybe something other than screws - maybe the entire back rotates to lock or unlock, with inset finger holds or a slightly knurled edge. i would suggest captured screws and a slightly larger snap-in-place gasket. the front of the watch may have been designed for the blind, but the back of the watch was definitely not. changing the battery requires dealing with four extremely tiny screws and a ring gasket that comes off with very little effort. i suspect someone just thought the idea was cool.Ģ. if there's any benefit to these elements being magnetic, i have absolutely no idea what it may be. honestly i find it a little bizarre that these elements are designed to be magnetic in the first place, they can easily be fixed in place without compromising waterproofing, motion, or aesthetics. the magnet holding the hour and minute bearings in place is fairly weak, and they're easily dislodged with normal braille-reading finger pressure. The overall design and quality are excellent, but there are two problems, and if i'd known about them in advance, i probably would have reconsidered purchasing this watch.ġ.
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