Yash Mehta, 14, was inspired for his first science fair project during a visit to a school for the blind in Old Delhi, India. He observed that the students did not have access to electronic Braille readers due to their high cost. Upon returning home, Yash developed a more affordable solution.
Yash’s invention utilizes a small rotating motor to create vibrations that mimic the tactile sensation of Braille. He conducted tests on students at the Blind Relief Society in New Delhi, India, where they achieved an 86% accuracy rate in reading Braille on his device compared to traditional printed Braille.
An aspiring engineer, Yash completed this project as an eighth-grader at Durham Academy in Durham, North Carolina. His research led him to become a finalist in the 2024 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, where he received the 1st place technology award. This competition is organized by the Society for Science, focusing on scientific innovation.
Below, Yash shares his science fair journey and offers advice to aspiring scientists.
What did you like most about this project?
“I’ve always been a hardware person and had no software ability,” Yash admits. Building his device required learning to code, which he accomplished through YouTube tutorials and Reddit threads. Despite the challenges, he found joy in mastering new skills and particularly enjoyed the hardware aspect of the project, especially 3D modeling.
What is the most important thing you learned?
Yash emphasizes the importance of leveraging mistakes. Initially, he attempted to build a Braille display using a TENS machine but had to pivot when it didn’t work. Instead of giving up, Yash used this setback as an opportunity to refine his approach and focus on developing the motor-based device.
What’s next?
Yash plans to integrate OCR (optical character recognition) into his device to enable translation of printed text and handwritten notes into Braille. He intends to seek feedback from the Blind Relief Society to enhance the prototype further.
Do you have any advice for science fair beginners?
“Seek projects that match your skill level and be open to gaining new knowledge,” advises Yash. He also stresses the importance of seeking feedback from the community to address real-world problems effectively.
Source: www.snexplores.org
