Dot Incorporation was founded in 2014 to produce innovative tactile devices.

Starting in 2014 with the Dot Smartwatch, the first Braille smart watch, which makes mobile communication possible for the visually impaired.

In 2018, Dot Mini is introduced to create access to any digital text content. Because the innovative Dot Translation Engine based on AI applies Machine Learning to understand context and translate to Grade 2 Braille, which is on average up to 50% shorter.

Dot Mini provides additional audio support, which makes consuming content much faster, effective and enjoyable. All in a device that’s multiple times smaller, more lightweight, less power consuming and cheaper than conventional devices.

Dot Public is in the first steps of being installed in the airport of Oman and millions of vending machines in Japan.

Dot Pad is in development and will bring tactile communication from reading to visualization in 2019.

All Dot devices feature Active Braille Displays with innovative (70 patents) Dot Technology, uniquely based on magnetism, which reduces size, weight, power consumption and price by up to ten times.

Dot Smartwatch is connected to the smartphone via Bluetooth and can receive any text information from any app or service, for a wide range of applications: From

Dot Mini can access digital text files from online libraries and websites, local and network storage.

Full audio support with speaker, headphones and microphone allow multisensory experiences like Karaoke and even watching movies with automatically generated text description.

Intuitive Control Elements including wheel, select and menu button and scroll buttons make interactive applications like calculation, editing and even games possible.

The Dot Translation Engine can automatically convert any digital text file into Grade 2 Braille.

Machine Learning depends largely on training. That’s why we strategically partner with big content platforms like Rakuten Kobo (global) and Yes24 (market leader in Japan) to use their huge content libraries (already more than 200,000 books), to continuously improve the Dot Translation Engine.

Over 300,000 Dot Smartwatch units sold.

First 1000 Dot Mini units are gradually being delivered to India and Kenya through Korean development agency.

40,000 Dot Mini units pre-ordered for 2018.

Partnerships with big content platforms like Rakuten Kobo and Yes24 for direct access to more than 200,000 books.

Dot Incorporation has grown from 3 people to 26, including the visually impaired, e.g. with Dot Mates, the individual customer support program.

Dot Incorporation was founded in 2014 to produce innovative tactile devices. So far, the portfolio includes two released and two unreleased products, that each on their own and in different aspects are life-changing for 285 million blind and visually impaired people: From mobile communication and access to content to transport and public spaces. From reading text messages and books to visualization of graphic content

2013

Start Development Core Technology

2014

Company Incorporation

First Patent Granted

2015

Dot Watch Prototype

Dot Watch Closed Beta

2016

Dot Watch Launch

Dot Mini Prototype

Cannes Lions Innovation Gold

2017

Dot Translation Engine Development

Dot Mini Closed Beta

Dot Pad Prototype

Dot Watch Consumer Marketing in USA, Asia and Europe

2018

Dot Mini Launch

Dot Pad Closed Beta

First 1000 Dot Mini units delivered to Kenya and India together with South Korean development agency KOICA

Latest Patent Granted

2019

Dot Pad Launch

Dot Public Launch

While we are all used to the benefits of modern technology in all aspects of life, from communication to entertainment and transport, the situation is very different for the 285 million blind and visually impaired people worldwide:

Only 3% of all digital text content is available in Braille, because material is expensive and translation requires human understanding, which makes it unprofitable in most cases. There is no alternative to Braille, especially when it comes to education: 90% of people who can’t read Braille are unemployed.

In 2016, Dot Incorporation set out to give the visually impaired access to mobile communication with the first Braille smartwatch. Now, we are creating access to content, with Dot Mini. The first smart media device for the visually impaired. It makes any digital context accessible through the innovative AI Dot Translation Engine based on Machine Learning.