James Dyson Award: How a question inspired this BTech student to invent voice-enabled Braille printer
BTech student Himaja Lingampalli won the James Dyson Award for creating Rudhra, a voice‑enabled Braille printer inspired by a visually impaired student’s query. The device converts spoken words into tactile Braille, eliminating the need for manual dot punching and paper reversal.
- ✓BTech student Himaja Lingampalli won the James Dyson Award for creating Rudhra, a voice‑enabled Braille printer inspired by a visually impaired student’s query.
- ✓The device converts spoken words into tactile Braille, eliminating the need for manual dot punching and paper reversal.
- ✓Civic Domain: Categorized under technology public notices.
Himaja Lingampalli, a fourth‑year BTech student at Sri Vishnu Engineering College for Women, was recognized with the James Dyson Award for developing Rudhra, a Braille printing system that operates through voice commands. The idea emerged during a visit to a school for visually impaired children, where a student asked why the existing button‑based prototype could not simply be spoken to.
During the visit, Lingampalli observed students using traditional Braille slates that required considerable pressure to emboss dots and then flipping the paper to read the text. After the student’s suggestion, she integrated Amazon Alexa’s voice interface, turning the prototype into a system that listens to spoken input and prints the corresponding Braille characters. The project spanned roughly 18‑24 months, drawing on coursework in engineering drawing, power electronics, embedded systems and sensors, and required early learning of microprocessor programming.
Rudhra aims to reduce the physical strain and cognitive load associated with conventional Braille writing, offering a more accessible tool for visually impaired learners. By enabling direct conversion of speech to tactile text, the invention could enhance inclusive education and set a precedent for student‑driven assistive technologies in India.
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| Issuing Authority | Indian Express Education |
|---|---|
| Topic Category | TECHNOLOGY |
| Jurisdiction | All India / National |
| Publication Date | 16 September 2026 |