[3D Printing News] 3D Printed Puzzles Overcome the Barriers to Learning Braille
Learning to read Braille is crucial for blind and visually impaired individuals. However, for most people, Braille learning resources are either too expensive or inefficient.
Now, a new educational puzzle can be 3D printed using the Ultimaker printer , making this important skill accessible to everyone.
The ability to read Braille empowers visually impaired individuals to process information effectively without relying on screen reader technology. Learning Braille can increase opportunities for higher education and employment by three times.
Digital Braille reading devices cost over $1,000, making them unaffordable for 90% of blind and visually impaired people living in developing countries.
These places typically only provide the most basic equipment and outdated learning materials, making it difficult for visually impaired people to acquire skills.
This is the most suitable place for the Fittle (3D printing) application.
Fittle Puzzle
A group of designers and eye care experts created the first 3D printed Braille puzzle.
Fittle is a collaborative project between Indian designer Tania Jain, India’s leading eye research institute LVPEI, German educational toy company Ravensburger, and independent global communications organization Serviceplan.
Each puzzle piece is divided into several sections, which, when connected, form words and objects. Connecting markers help learners combine the pieces by touch, and once assembled, the Braille word for the object will be revealed.
"So far, it has received a very positive response. More and more children are able to learn Braille better using Fittle. "
These parts are printed using a hollow design to minimize material usage. The low cost of 3D printing prototyping also allows for the realization of more refined designs with the help of feedback from blind users.
There are increasingly more Fittle shapes, specifically designed for 3D printing, that are then distributed across many regions of India. 
LVPEI uses Ultimaker to create puzzles and uses Fittle fish to learn Braille.
Expanding 3D printing
With support from Novabeans, the Fittle project team decided to use the Ultimaker 2+ 3D printer, which provided them with the balance of price, quality, and usability they needed. Their initial prototype was made of wood, but a more affordable solution was required for the product to become truly accessible to a wider audience.
The team initially tried using larger, industrial-grade 3D printers, but these proved too expensive or unreliable in producing durable and accurate models. Using the Ultimaker printer, Fittle can meet its needs by 3D printing the completed puzzles, which are then distributed to regional centers in LVPEI.
It is there for Braille learners.
The difference in 3D printing can have a huge impact. For $10,000, Fittle can provide four digital Braille readers or 200 Braille books.
But the same investment can cover the cost of 16,000 3D printed puzzles and printers. 
"So far, there has been a very widespread response to the message," said Christoph Bohlender, Creative Director of Serviceplan Health & Life. "More and more children are using Fittle to learn Braille better."
What are their plans for the future? The Fittle team hopes to fund more printers, send out more puzzles, create more shapes, and eventually move to other regions.
You can donate to this project, download models, or learn Braille on the Fittle website !
Original source: https://ultimaker.com/en/stories/52510-3d-printed-puzzle-breaks-down-braille-barriers