THE TECH-LICIOUS

Thermal Touch" can turn any surface into an augmented reality touchscreen

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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="German company Metaio is using an infrared camera and AR technology to turn any surface in..." height="359" src="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/thermal-touch-augmented-reality.jpg" width="640" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Augmented reality company Metaio is developing "Thermal Touch," a technology that combines infrared and visible light cameras to detect the heat signature from your fingers and turn any object into a touchscreen. The technology could be embedded in the smartphones and wearable devices of the future to offer new ways of interacting with our environment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="The current prototype makes use of a standard camera, plus an infrared camera mounted on a..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_lrg/thermal-touch-augmented-reality-0.jpg" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Back in 2004, the <a href="http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_2600-814.php" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">best-selling mobile phone</a> had a 128 x 128-pixel screen, no camera or Bluetooth, and a whopping 4 MB of internal memory. Ten years from now, smartphones and other wearable devices will in all likelihood push the envelope much further than we can now imagine, by embedding all sorts of advanced, miniaturized sensors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Metaio, an augmented reality company based in Munich, believes that thermal imaging cameras will be a staple in the personal electronics of the future, and has developed the prototype of a user interface that relies on them to turn any object into a heat-sensitive touchscreen.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/thermal-touch-augmented-reality/32218/pictures#4" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="The system can easily discriminate between touching and hovering over the surface (Photo: ..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/thermal-touch-augmented-reality-3.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="530" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The prototype, currently mounted on a tablet device, consists of an infrared camera coupled with a standard, visible light camera. The device registers the heat signature left by a person's finger when they touch a surface, and then uses augmented reality software to add new interesting, context-sensitive functions that allow users to interact with their environment in new ways and in real time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For instance, while shopping at the supermarket, you could touch an item and immediately bring up online consumer reviews for that product; design 3D objects and see how they would sit in your room before they're sent to the presses; or even draw the outline of a TV remote on your hand, and then press a virtual button to change the channel or adjust the volume.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">One interesting feature is that the technology can easily discriminate between the user actually touching a surface and hovering over it, since the heat transfer is significantly reduced. This could open up even more ways of interacting with the environment (and which are likely to look even more bizarre to an outside observer).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For the time being, the technology is at the early stages and will need years of research before it could be embedded into consumer electronics. Metaio says it will demonstrate a prototype on May 27-29 at the Augmented World Expo in Santa Clara, California.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You can see the technology at work in the video below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Source: <a href="http://augmentedblog.wordpress.com/2014/05/23/metaio-unveils-thermal-imaging-rd-for-future-use-in-wearable-augmented-reality-headsets/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Metaio</a></span></div>
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Thermal Touch" can turn any surface into an augmented reality touchscreen

Augmented reality company Metaio is developing "Thermal Touch," a technology that combines infrared and visible light cameras...

Peres e-nose sniffs out spoiled food

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<img alt="The Peres is designed to detect the freshness of food" height="324" src="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/peres.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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Technology can go a long way towards keeping food fresher for longer, but it can also be used to check whether the food has passed its best-by date. We've seen plastics that indicate the freshness of food, and we've also covered food packaging that lets people know if it's still fresh. Now, a product called Peres aims to perform a similar task, but it does it with a sensor and a smartphone or tablet.</div>
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The Peres device is held by the user, over his or her food. Four sensors are included that monitor temperature, humidity, ammonia and volatile organic compounds in the air around the food, and that information is fed back to the user's smartphone via Bluetooth. Once it has the data, the app will display recommendations based on the freshness of the food.</div>
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The video below demonstrates the Peres system in use.</div>
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According to the creators, the sensors in Peres can detect over 100 different volatile organic compounds in food, and many of these are strong indicators of whether or not it is fresh and safe to eat.</div>
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The application that displays the data will be available on both iOS and Android. It will also support phones and tablets, which should open it up to wide range of potential users.</div>
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Peres is seeking funding on Indiegogo. It has already surpassed its US$50,000 goal with just over a week left in its funding period. Backers interested in getting a Peres of their own will be required to pledge a minimum of $120, with an expected delivery date this November.</div>
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The pitch video below provides some back story and information on the Peres system.</div>
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Sources: <a href="http://www.getperes.com/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Peres</a>, <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/peres-smart-way-to-protect-you-from-food-poisoning" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Indiegogo</a></div>
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Peres e-nose sniffs out spoiled food

Technology can go a long way towards keeping food fresher for longer, but it can also be used to check whether the food has passed its be...

Marbel Board: Is this the world's lightest electric vehicle?

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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="Marbel uses a lithium-ion battery and a Kevlar and carbon fiber composite deck to keep its..." height="359" src="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/marbel_electric_skateboard.jpg" width="640" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Electric skateboards are certainly building up some momentum as a form of urban transport, and they seem to just keep getting lighter and lighter. Florida-based start-up Marbel is the latest to set its wheels in motion, this week launching a crowdfunding campaign for what it claims to be the world's lightest electric vehicle – the 9.9 lb (4.5 kg) Marbel.</span></div>
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<img alt="Marbel runs on 50 degree 180 mm longboard trucks and 76 mm wheels with ABEC 9 bearings" src="http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_lrg/marbel_electric_skateboard-9.jpg" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">To put that number into perspective, the Evolve electric skateboard we took for a spin last year weighs in at 19.6 lb (8.9 kg). Back in 2012, Boosted Boards raised a few eyebrows (and a boatload of Kickstarter funds) with its 12-lb (5.5 kg) motorized longboard. If the appeal of an electric skateboard lies in convenience for those hopping off buses and making that last-mile trip, then trimming off some of the fat could be as important a factor as any.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"Our main focus was user experience," Matt Belcher, founder of Marbel, tells THE TECH-LICIOUS. "Weight was the big choice for making it easier for people to carry and use everyday."</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/marbel-worlds-lightest-electric-vehicle/32202/pictures#5" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="The 165 Wh lithium battery powers a 2,000 W (2.68 hp) brushless DC motor for a top speed o..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/marbel_electric_skateboard-3.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="529" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It's one thing to identify this as a design focus, but bringing the weight of the Marbel board to under ten pounds involved some rather advanced technology.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"The main reason we were able to keep the weight so low was by utilizing very specific carbon fiber in combination with Kevlar in the composite deck," explains Marbel. "The second reason is the battery cells we are using. They are the latest in lithium-ion battery technology and very similar to what you will find in a Tesla Model S".</span></div>
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<img alt="Users control the Marbel Board using a wireless handheld controller, which sports a thumb ..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_lrg/marbel_electric_skateboard-1.jpg" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The light build of the Marbel board doesn't appear to have come at a cost. The 165 Wh lithium battery powers a 2,000 W (2.68 hp) brushless DC motor for a top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h), both of which are sealed for protection on the bottom side of the deck. The battery can be fully charged in 90 minutes, which according to Marbel should be good for a range of 10 mile (16 km). This puts it well ahead of the Boosted Board's range of 6 mi (9.6 km), but short of Yuneec's E-Go Cruiser at 18 mi (30 km). This was necessary, Belcher claims, to maintain the weight of the board.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"For range, we worked long and hard on this and 10 to 11 miles seemed to be the sweet spot for most of our test riders," he says. "We have the ability to add more range down the road if customers really ask for it, but if we do add more range it would mean sacrificing on weight."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Users control the Marbel Board using a wireless handheld controller, which sports a thumb slider that is slid forward to accelerate or back to trigger the regenerative braking. In addition, the board has a built-in Wi-Fi module which allows for more advanced control via a companion smartphone app, compatible with both iOS and Android.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/marbel-worlds-lightest-electric-vehicle/32202/pictures#9" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="The board has a built-in Wi-Fi module which allows for more advanced control via a compani..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/marbel_electric_skateboard-8.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="530" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Within the app, users can control the throttle in real time or access a dashboard to customize their ride. It comes configured with low power Starter Mode, energy-saving Eco Mode and no holds-barred Sport Mode. Alternatively, users can dive into custom mode to adjust the top speed and rate of acceleration.</span></div>
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<img alt="The battery can be fully charged in 90 minutes, which according to Marbel should be good f..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_lrg/marbel_electric_skateboard-10.jpg" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Marbel runs on 50 degree 180 mm longboard trucks and 76 mm wheels with ABEC 9 bearings. Measuring 38 in (96.5 cm) long and 10 in (25 cm) wide, the company says Marbel should have no trouble tackling hills of a 15 percent grade incline.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The team is looking to raise US$90,000 on <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1664522105/marbel-the-lightest-electric-skateboard-in-the-wor" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a>. Having kicked off the campaign this week, it appears well on its way to achieving that goal, having already attracted over $40,00 in pledges as of this writing. An early pledge of $1,099 will put you in line for one of the e-boards, the company planning to ship in November if everything falls into place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But is this the world's lightest electric vehicle? We're hard pressed to find anything lighter, but we'd be interested to hear your thoughts in the comments section.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You can hear from Belcher and see Marbel taken for a ride in the video below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Source: <a href="http://ridemarbel.com/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Marbel</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="398" scrolling="no" src="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1664522105/marbel-the-lightest-electric-skateboard-in-the-wor/widget/video.html" width="530"></iframe></span><br />
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Marbel Board: Is this the world's lightest electric vehicle?

Electric skateboards are certainly building up some momentum as a form of urban transport, and they seem to just keep getting lighter an...

Students 3D Print A Human Kidney Substitute

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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="" src="http://www.3dprinterworld.com/sites/speh/files/images/medical/uconn-kidney/ansonma-student-3d-printed-kidney.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 400px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 600px;" /></span></div>
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<img alt="" class="right" src="http://www.3dprinterworld.com/sites/speh/files/images/medical/uconn-kidney/uconn_3d_printed_kidney.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: right; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 300px; line-height: inherit; margin: 5px 0px 10px 15px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 208px;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">According to the <a href="http://www.usrds.org/About.aspx" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #485d7e; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">United States Renal Data System</a>, End-Stage Renal Disease resulted in over 90,000 deaths in 2009. Solving the problem has been difficult at best as treatment options aimed at dealing with renal disease are basically limited to organ transplantation or dialysis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Neither of those options are ideal. A demand which far outstrips a limited supply of transplantable kidneys limits one method and dialysis is expensive and offers only a temporary solution.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As of this moment, nearly 100,000 people are awaiting kidney transplants in the United States and only 14,000 kidney transplant surgeries have been performed this year, while 2,500 new patients are added to the kidney transplant waiting list each month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Now two teams at the University of Connecticut are completing a year-long effort to design and develop a prototype for a cost-effective and entirely functional artificial kidney via chemical engineering and 3D printing technology.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.cbe.engr.uconn.edu/anson-w-k-ma" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #485d7e; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="right" src="http://www.3dprinterworld.com/sites/speh/files/images/medical/uconn-kidney/labeled-3d-kidney.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: right; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 280px; line-height: inherit; margin: 5px 0px 10px 15px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 300px;" />Anson Ma, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Connecticut</a>, along with two three-person teams of chemical engineering students, have created an artificial kidney for their Senior Design Project using 3D printing technology.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Students Derek Chhiv, Meaghan Sullivan, Danny Ung, Benjamin Coscia, Guleid Awale, and Ali Rogers partnered with <a href="http://www.goactgroup.com/3d-equipment" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #485d7e; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">3D printing company ACT Group</a>, to create a prototype shell for the artificial kidney.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Measuring 12 cm long and 6 cm in diameter, the innovative device is the average size of an adult human biological kidney.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"The objective of the design project is to get these students to combine the latest technology and their chemical engineering knowledge, learned over their four years at UConn, to solve a technical problem where we can make a difference," Ma said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Awale, a senior at UConn, says each team approached the problem of how to create a working kidney from different angles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="" src="http://www.3dprinterworld.com/sites/speh/files/images/medical/uconn-kidney/uconn-3d-printed-kidney-internal-600.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 400px; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 600px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"While the other team utilized techniques such as electrodialysis and forward osmosis in their prototype, our group opted for mainly hollow fiber membrane technology commonly found in traditional hemodialysis treatments," Awale said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">According to fellow student Coscia, hollow fiber membrane technology presents certain hurdles to anyone trying to implement a solution.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"Because 3D printing resolutions are not currently low enough to print a structure which will actually filter blood, the file is of only the shell of the kidney," Coscia said. "Hollow fiber membranes will be installed on the inside to do the filtration function. The kidney will then be sealed together using the threads and sealing o-rings. A fluid called dialysate will be circulated on the outside of the membranes, inside of the shell, to remove waste material from the blood and keep useful material from leaving the blood. A waste stream maintains the person's ability to urinate. The outside of the shell can be used as a substrate for growth of biological material for ease of integration into the body."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Once the designs were complete, members of the two teams collaborated with the ACT Group of Cromwell, Conn. to choose appropriate polymer materials and the correct printer to use in outputting the prototype designs. The projects were debuted in early May at the School of Engineering Senior Design Demonstration Day.</span></div>
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Students 3D Print A Human Kidney Substitute

According to the United States Renal Data System , End-Stage Renal Disease resulted in over 90,000 deaths in 2009. Solving the problem ...

Robohand’s cheap 3D-printed leg is set to revolutionize prosthetics

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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Legs" src="http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Legs-640x353.jpeg" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Historically, prosthetic body parts have been hard to come by for many patients around the world. To lower costs and widen availability, a team of people from around the globe have teamed up to create 3D-printable prosthetics under the name “Robohand.” While the initial focus was on hands and fingers, the team has now set their sights on offering a 3D-printable leg at a fraction of the cost of traditional prosthetics. If the prototypes are successful, this low-cost solution could give thousands of amputees the ability to walk again.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Roboleg.png" style="color: #b1700a; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="Roboleg" class="alignright size-full wp-image-182768" height="432" src="http://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Roboleg.png" style="border-style: none; float: right; padding-left: 10px;" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Earlier this week, a picture of the very first RoboLeg prototype hit the internet, and the response has been extremely positive. Since then, a 3D model of the finished version (right) has been released, and it looks absolutely gorgeous. There is still a lot of work to be done before it’s safe for humans to use, but the early results are promising. The fitting process still needs to be nailed down, and the assembled prosthetic needs to be thoroughly tested, but the finished product is well on its way to becoming a reality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Keep in mind, the 3D printer is just being used here to make the plastic parts. The metal rods and pneumatic pumps are made separately through traditional methods. Still, you could theoretically be able to order everything from the internet, and make it yourself. Better yet, hospitals and charitable organizations will be able to make custom legs for amputees in need. That’s what really matters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The final price range hasn’t been revealed yet, but rest assured that it will be a substantial savings over existing prosthetic legs. A fully assembled Robohand only costs about $500, but traditional prosthetics can cost tens of thousands of dollars. It’s safe to assume we’ll see a similar price gap with the RoboLeg.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you’d like to dabble with your very own prosthetic limbs, just head on over to theRobohand page at the Makerbot Thingiverse, and start downloading. The plans for the leg aren’t currently available to the public, but seven other designs are available right now for free. If you have access to a 3D printer, take this opportunity to make something amazing.</span></div>
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Robohand’s cheap 3D-printed leg is set to revolutionize prosthetics

Historically, prosthetic body parts have been hard to come by for many patients around the world. To lower costs and widen availability,...

OwnFone launches 3D-printed braille phone

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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1379769/ownfone-has-launched-braille-phone-that-made-using-3d-printing.jpg" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">UK-based mobile phone company OwnFone has launched what it says is the world’s first commercially-available braille mobile phone. The OwnFone is a simple, light and low-cost device that can be set up with braille quick-dial buttons. It is customized by the user before being 3D-printed by OwnFone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mobile phones obviously have the potential to be hugely beneficial for the blind and partially-sighted, but the visual nature of today's phone can largely or entirely preclude those with sight problems from using them. Similarly, braille is simply not an option where modern, touch-screen smartphones are concerned. Despite this, much of the advice for those with sight difficulties focuses around apps or accessibility settings that can improve standard devices.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/ownfone-launches-3d-printed-braille-phone/32171/pictures#3" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="The OwnFone is available in the UK starting from £40 (US$68), or £60 ($101) for a braille ..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/ownfone-3.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="530" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The OwnFone takes a different approach, by stripping back the mobile phone to just its basic functionality and de-cluttering the fascia. The device is about the size of a credit card and saves only the user's most necessary contacts. It has a handful of buttons on its front, each pre-programmed with a direct action, such as increasing or decreasing the volume and switching the phone on or off. Up to four braille quick-dial buttons can also be set up, along with up to twelve buttons with either images or printed names.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Users can choose to have their name printed at the top of the phone and their number printed on the back for convenience. The quick-dial buttons are set up via the phone builder tool on the OwnFone website, with the user inputting the names and phone numbers of their required contacts (presumably with the aid of a sighted helper). A quick-dial button for the emergency services can be added too. A variety of design options are available for the OwnFone, which are also applied via the website.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/ownfone-launches-3d-printed-braille-phone/32171/pictures#2" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="The device is customized by the user via the OwnFone website before it is 3D-printed and s..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/ownfone-2.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="529" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Once the user has designed their OwnPhone, the company 3D-prints the device and sends it to the user. The use of 3D printing enables the company to minimize costs, as well as the lead-time between orders being placed and devices delivered. If a user wishes to change their quick-dial numbers, the device can be updated and reprinted for £10 (US$17).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The OwnFone could be useful for day-to-day use, but it could also serve as a backup emergency phone. When the device is switched off, its battery will hold its charge for up to a year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">OwnFone was initially launched in 2012 as the the world’s first custom-printed mobile phone. The company says it has a patent pending for its addition of braille buttons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"In the past the cost of developing a braille phone vs. the market size has been a barrier to entry," says OwnFone founder Tom Sunderland in a press release. "3D printing provides a fast and affordable way to overcome this barrier."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The braille version of the OwnFone is currently only available in the UK, retailing from £60 ($101).</span></div>
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OwnFone launches 3D-printed braille phone

UK-based mobile phone company OwnFone has launched what it says is the world’s first commercially-available braille mobile phone. The Ow...