Art and Style | October 17, 2007 | 14 comments

Tattoos For The Blind

source: http://www.digital.udk-berlin.de/en/projects/summer07/haupt/bodytech/braille.html

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bstein
Braille Graffitti? please, try Braille Tattoos

Berlin student Klara Jirkova has designed a series of implantable surgical steel, titanium, or medical plastic placed under the skin to create Braille Tattoos. The tattoo can be read via touch.
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14 comments // Tattoos For The Blind

  • EleanorK
    • 0
      EleanorK  
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    • Similar to African Scarification?

      "African scarification also conveys information regarding the cultural and religious beliefs of the wearer. Among some African peoples, a person does not truly join the community without this communication."

    • 4 years ago
  • EleanorK
    • 0
      EleanorK  
    • Image

    • A link to Frostfire's reason For Braille Tattoos;

      "Braille Tattoos... can be touched and read"

      "They are an opportunity for blind people to have a meaningful body alteration, but also something that could be used by those who live or work with blind people"

      "The implants are made of surgical grade stainless steel /316L/, titanium or special plastic materials. they can not really move around inside the body."

      "The implant could be placed on the hand - between thumb and finger, so that it could be read when shaking hands."

    • 4 years ago
  • EleanorK
    • 0
      EleanorK  
    • Image

    • A link to Khalid's reasons not to get a Braille Tattoo;

      "Getting such a tattoo is very intrusive."

      "They do not last forever...These implants would have to be repaired, changed, or renewed every so often and this could easily get expensive and annoying to do"

      "Braille tattoos do not look all that appeasing to those who are not blind. The raised bumps on the skin can easily be mistaken as a form of skin disease."

    • 4 years ago
  • EleanorK
    • 0
      EleanorK  
    • Image

    • Klara Jirkova thinks the implants could be used in the divet between thumb and pointer finger, so when people shake hands they can "read" each other's names and info.

    • 4 years ago
  • ajbarber9
  • mrhaft
    • 0
      mrhaft  

    • retouching shouldn't be a problem if the beads are completely non-immunogenic, ie not recognized by the immune system. Its an interesting idea, but wouldn't branding accomplish the same task? They can still interpret regular letters, they just can't see them. I say bust out the branding iron and go to town.

    • 4 years ago
  • avt85
    • 0
      avt85  

    • I think it's pretty cool. A lot of people get tattoos to represent something personal to them. I think it is nice that blind people have their own way of expressing themselves. It's kind of like poetry, anybody can try to interpret the true meaning of it, but only the poet can understand the true meaning.

    • 4 years ago
  • MERenner
    • 0
      MERenner  

    • ok, so it's kind of a cool idea...but who wants to look like they are breaking out in hives?!?! ...personally, I wouldn't want pieces of steel in my arm...hopefully they stay in place. Is there a warranty on those???

    • 4 years ago
  • grando
  • angelasun
  • missehka
    • 0
      missehka  

    • That's really interesting!! I wonder if it has to get retouched after a while. Can you imagine someone getting a full sleeve of Braille tattoos?

    • 4 years ago
  • IAMmartini
  • bstein
  • Tori
    • 0
      Tori  

    • Whoa. That's really cool, in a slightly uncomfortable seeming way. I wonder if you notice them poking you if you lie on 'em.

      It would be kind of funny if blind people just started groping everyone in the hopes that they might have a braille tattoo.

    • 4 years ago
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