A recently published Sony patent reveals development on a controller integration that would output braille, increasing accessibility for players.
A recent patent publication has revealed that Sony is working on a braille integration system for the PlayStation 5 controller, which would allow visually impaired players to use the PS5 controller touchpad to feel vibrations that can be read as braille. This latest patent joins a growing number of recent Sony patents targeting accessibility that have given audiences some insight into the company’s research and development efforts.
An undeniable powerhouse in the technology and gaming industries, Sony has pioneered a number of developments over the years in television, sound, and gaming hardware. Its software achievements have been of key focus in recent months, with a variety of patent systems revealing the potential for exciting new features.
According to a patent filed by Sony, the company is working on a way to integrate vibrations in the PS5 controller touchpad to mimic braille, allowing visually impaired players to read subtitles on the controller. The system would utilize the PS5’s haptic feedback and vibration function to replicate braille text in the form of pulses on the touchpad. Visually impaired players would be able to drag their finger across the touchpad and feel these pulses, similar to feeling printed braille. In doing so, these players would be able to read subtitles and other on-screen text, improving accessibility in gaming. However, it is key to note that patents are frequently filed by Sony and other companies that are then never fully developed, so there is no guarantee that this braille system will ever be made available to the public.
Sony PS5 Controller Braille System Patent Details
As detailed in the Sony braille system patent, the pre-existing haptic feedback and vibration functions of a PS5 controller could be utilized to mimic braille. Players would have the ability to read braille using the PS5 touchpad and would even be able to control the speed of the text and related cutscenes, based on how slowly or quickly they drag their finger across the touchpad. Text would start once the player touches the left edge of the touchpad, with the next section beginning only once they reach the right edge of the touchpad. This would allow players to experience entire cutscenes through vibration alone while ensuring the audio does not outpace the braille pulses. While this braille system would greatly improve gaming opportunities for visually impaired players, Sony has not yet confirmed if this system, or any other Sony software patents, will actually be rolled out to users.
Accessibility continues to be a key focus for many in the video game industry, which has been clearly reflected in the recent patent publications of Sony and other big-name companies. Whether players will get to experience the braille integration system remains to be seen, but many are hopeful that the focus on accessibility in many Sony patents will, in time, result in improved gaming for diverse audiences.
PS5 Controller
The DualSense wireless controller for PS5 offers immersive haptic feedback adaptive triggers and a built-in microphone. In addition, the built battery should get you through the longest gaming sessions at 1560 mAH.
This controller is built with high performance and personalization in mind while retaining all the immersive features of the DualSense wireless controller. The built-in microphone and headphone jack make it simple to connect headsets for multiplayer chatting or headphones for more immersive audio.
- Brand
- Sony
- Platform
- PS5, PC, Android, and iOS
- Battery
- 1560 mAh
- Connectivity
- Bluetooth, Wired USB-C
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