IET students develop affordable easy-to-use ‘Brilliant Keyboard’ to transform Braille access

Indore: Millions of visually impaired persons often faced limited access to the digital world due to costly and complex assistive devices. Students of Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya's Institute of Engineering and Technology have developed an affordable and easy-to-use solution, Brilliant Keyboard, to bridge this gap. The device has been designed to simplify Braille-based digital interaction.At a time when most Braille-enabled devices in the market remain prohibitively expensive and complex, Brilliant Keyboard stands out for its accessibility and ease of use. Conventional refreshable Braille displays and keyboards typically cost between Rs 40,000 and Rs 2 lakh, limiting their reach. In contrast, the Brilliant Keyboard is priced between Rs 5,000 and Rs 7,000, making it nearly 85 percent more affordable.Backed by the DAVV incubation centre, the project has received technical and institutional support in its development and early-stage scaling. Developed by a team including Shruti Mishra, Utkarsh Sharma, Kanishk Singh Rajput, Sarthak Srivastava and Dhawal More, under the guidance of Vaibhav Neema, the innovation aims to bridge a long-standing accessibility gap.The device is designed as a compact, Bluetooth-enabled keyboard that can be seamlessly connected to smartphones, tablets, laptops, and computers. Built using 3D-printed material and weighing under 300 gram, it is portable and suited for everyday use. Its six-dot layout mirrors the structure of a standard Braille cell, allow users to adapt quickly without extensive training.Explaining the idea behind the project, team member Mishra said, "We wanted to build something that is not only affordable but also simple enough for anyone to start using without feeling intimidated by technology."Unlike many existing tools that require specialised training and often lack intuitive interfaces, the Brilliant Keyboard focuses on user-friendly interaction. It also incorporates audio and haptic feedback, enabling users to identify typing errors instantly.Developers say most users can learn basic Braille typing on the device within a few hours, significantly reducing the learning curve. Another team member Sharma said, "Most existing devices are either too expensive or require specialised training. Our focus was to reduce both cost and complexity at the same time."The team secured first place at the DAVV Startup Expo 2025, the 33rd International Management Conclave ‘Samvardhan 3.0', and the ‘Youth for Change' Social Summit, highlighting both its technical merit and social impact.With plans to scale production, the team hopes to make the device widely available across the country, enabling greater digital inclusion for millions of visually impaired users.