3D print technology can help the visually impaired to access art

3Dphotoworks, a New York-based company, has come up with a great idea to help visually impaired people "see" the pictures, thanks to 3D printing. Co-developed by the American Association for the Blind, the process of 'touch 3D printing' was inspired by the study of the flexible nerve mechanism of Dr. Paul Bach-y-Rita, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

According to a study by Bach-y-Rita, the human brain is capable of handling the tactile information obtained from finger contact, similar to what the "seeing" brings. Basically, that means that when a blind person touches the artwork printed in 3D, its image will form in the brain, just like a normal person can. To improve the quality of the experience, some sensors are inserted in the print to automatically generate sound, letting the blind know what they are touching as well as basic information about the picture.

Firm 3Dphotoworks said it took seven long years to research and development process in "3D art haptic" (3D Tactile Fine Art), and spent the next 2 years to experiment with volunteers who are blind or blind. Producers say their technique can produce artworks up to 1.5 x 3 meters in size. "Our goal is to make the world's greatest works of art as well as great photographs accessible to the blind, making them available in every museum, every science center and All agencies, first in the US then beyond , " said John Olson, co-founder of 3DPhotoWorks.

The company is launching a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter with a target of $ 500,000, which began in September this year. If successful, the money raised will be used to recruit more staff and boost investment in manufacturing technology.