SightCity Podcast (EN)

The English-language part of our bilingual exhibition podcast with specialist presentations, interviews and innovations for more inclusion.

Since 08/2025 9 episodes

SightCity Exhibitor Presentation 2026: Introducing the Orbit Flow and Strata Braille Display Families (O033072

2026-06-30 27 min

Episode Video

;

Description & Show Notes

Venkatesh Chari von Orbit Research LLC stellt auf der SightCity 2026 die neue Orbit Flow 40 und Orbit Strata Produktfamilie vor – Piezo-Braillezeilen für den alltäglichen Einsatz in Schule, Beruf und Freizeit. Darüber hinaus gibt er einen umfassenden Überblick über das gesamte Orbit-Portfolio: von der Braillezeile und dem Brailledrucker über taktile Grafik-Displays bis hin zu Sprachausgabegeräten, Lupen und barrierefreien Taschenrechnern. Am Ende der Präsentation beantwortet er eine Frage zur geplanten Verfügbarkeit des Optima Braille Laptops.

This recording is from the exhibitor presentation by Orbit Research LLC at SightCity 2026, recorded on May 29th, 2026. The presenter is Venkatesh Chari from Orbit Research.

More information: https://sightcity.net/O033072

Orbit Research: Mission & Approach

Orbit Research has been developing affordable assistive technology for blind and visually impaired people for over 28 years. Their philosophy: outcomes ahead of short-term profit. The portfolio spans reading, note-taking, tactile graphics, magnification, and accessible computing.

Orbit Flow 40 & Orbit Strata Series (New)

The new piezo products complement the existing true Braille cell lineup, giving users a meaningful choice:

Orbit Flow 40 – Compact 40-cell Braille display for computers and smartphones. USB plug-and-play, compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, ChromeOS, and Linux. Ergonomic thumb keys for comfortable panning and navigation.

Orbit Strata 40 – 40-cell piezo Braille display with Perkins-style keyboard, standalone and connected modes. Users can read, write, and edit documents without a connected device.

Orbit Strata 40 Pro & 20 Pro – Combine Braille with speech, audio, online services, and productivity tools. Built on the same platform as the Orbit Speak Plus. The 20 Pro is the more compact, portable option; the 40 Pro offers a full 40-cell Braille line for heavier reading and editing.

Orbit Player

Compact DAISY and media player for accessible reading, listening, and online libraries. Supports DAISY, EPUB, DOCX, PDF, BRF, MP3, FLAC, and more. Features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM radio, voice guidance, bookmarking, and multi-level navigation (page, chapter, paragraph, sentence, word). Over 20 GB internal storage, SD cards up to 2 TB. Access to Bookshare, Gutenberg, and European library services.

Orbit Reader Family (Affordable Braille)

The core of Orbit's affordable Braille offering:

Orbit Reader 20 and Orbit Reader 20 Plus
Orbit Reader 40
Orbit Reader Q40 and Orbit Reader Q20

All devices are based on Orbit's patented true Braille cell technology, known for reliability, rugged construction, and firm Braille dots.

Orbit Slate – Multi-Line Braille Display

The Orbit Slate 340 and Slate 520 bring multi-line refreshable Braille into a more accessible price range. Particularly valuable in education, research, and specialised professional settings where reading multiple Braille lines at once helps users perceive document structure and layout more naturally.

Graffiti and Graffiti Plus – Tactile Graphics Displays

Graffiti was the world's first affordable tactile graphics display. Using moving pins that can be set to different heights, users can feel diagrams, drawings, floor plans, images, and photographs as tactile relief. Graffiti Plus extends this concept into a more interactive, classroom-ready product for STEM education.

Orbit Magna – Digital Magnifiers

The Magna 3, 4, and 5 series support people with low vision in reading printed materials and working independently in everyday environments. Orbit focuses on fast start-up, ease of use, and consistent performance.

Orion – Talking Calculators

The Orion family includes accessible versions of the TI-30XS and TI-84+ (with graphical display). Both devices speak inputs and results aloud, supporting visually impaired students in class and during exams.

Orbit Apps

Orbit Teacher Remote and Orbit Chat extend the hardware: teachers can support Braille users remotely, and communication in inclusive learning environments is made easier. The apps turn the hardware ecosystem into a connected whole.

Optima Braille Laptop – Q&A

When asked about the availability of the Optima Braille Laptop, Venkatesh Chari answered: expected early to mid-2027 (three to four quarters from May 2026). Those interested can register at sales@orbitresearch.com to receive a notification when the Optima becomes available for pre-order.

Contact

Website: www.orbitresearch.com Email: sales@orbitresearch.com

About SightCity
SightCity is Europe's largest trade fair for aids and services for the blind and visually impaired. The annual event brings together exhibitors, professionals, and community members to showcase the latest innovations in accessibility technology and services.

SightCity:

Website: www.sightcity.net
Email: info@sightcity.net
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Threads, TikTok, WhatsApp

Legal Disclaimer

This recording was created during SightCity 2025 from the online exhibitor presentations. The copyright of the recordings belongs to SightCity GmbH. Any use, reproduction, or distribution by third parties is prohibited without express written permission. The processing of personal data is carried out in accordance with the provisions of the GDPR.

Transcript

Welcome to the recording of the exhibitor presentation From May 29th, 2026 Introducing the Orbit Flow and Strata Braille display families Orbit Research LLC Enjoy the presentation Hello all My I just shared my screen so hope it is visible to you so I will I'll be starting the presentation now So yeah Hello and welcome to all of you for joining us for this presentation I'm from Orbit Research A company dedicated to transforming lives through technology For people who are blind and visually impaired For over 28 years we are focused on building affordable Rugged devices that enable independent living Education and access to digital content Today in this presentation I will walk you through our mission The latest addition to our product family Which is basically the Orbit Flow and strata families And how our technologies are already being used in classrooms Labs and homes around the world to expand literacy Stem learning and everyday access to media Over the next few minutes We will highlight what makes our approach different Our blend of user centered design Patented core technologies And a commitment to social impact That places outcomes ahead of short term profit Orbit has always believed that access to Braille Should not be limited by cost That belief led to the Orbit Reader family Our true Braille cell technology And a line of products that brought refreshable Braille Within reach of many more users around the world With flow and strata we are adding another path Some users prefer Piezo Braille because of its feel Speed and quiet operations Others prefer the firmness and ruggedness of true Braille cell Our view is simple users should have meaningful choices The new flow and strata products Bring Orbit's practical design approach to Piezo Braille They are built for real use with familiar navigation Strong connectivity and the kind of product support that schools Agencies and individual users need Purpose beyond profit Orbit Research's mission has always been grounded in impact first From the beginning The company focused on filling the urgent need for affordable Assistive technology products that enable independent living Education and meaningful participation in daily life That purpose shows up in the way our devices are designed Durable enough for long term use Simple enough for broad adoption And powerful enough to support real learn and work Our portfolio reflects that philosophy across reading Note taking tactile graphics Magnification and accessible computing Products like Orbit Player Orbit Reader 40 and graffiti are not just hardware offering They are tools that help people access books Document stem material and digital information more independently In the next slides You know I will be discussing about the new range of products Which is the flow family and the Orbit Strata family So for the flow family We have the Orbit Flow 40 and in the strata family We have the Orbit Strata 40 The Orbit Strata 40 Pro and the Orbit Strata 20 Pro So starting with the Orbit Flow 40 Orbit Flow 40 is a compact 40 cell Braille display Designed for computer and smartphone users Who want a smooth and natural Braille reading experience Featuring high quality Piezo Braille cells Ergonomic navigation control and instant connectivity It provides reliable Braille access for work Study and everyday reading Flow 40 is designed for seamless use with computers and mobile devices With instant USB plug and play operation It works immediately with popular screen readers on Windows Mac OS iOS Android Chrome OS and Linux allowing users to access documents Websites email and applications through Braille The display features 40 Piezo Braille cells with cursor routing keys Allowing precise navigation And direct interaction with text on the screen Ergonomic thumb keys for panning Provide natural and comfortable Braille reading While additional configurable keys Allow users to control screen reader commands efficiently Next we go to the Orbit Strata 40 Orbit Strata 40 Brings many of the familiar capabilities of the Orbit Reader 40 Style product into a new Piezo Braille device It includes 40 Braille cells with cursor routing keys A Perkins style Braille keyboard Thumb keys panning controls A cursor pad and support for stand alone and connected use In standalone mode users can read books and files Write and edit documents Manage folders use productivity tools And work with Braille translation in many languages In connected mode Strata 40 works as a Braille display With major screen readers across phones tablets and computers This is a product for users who want a full featured 40 cell Braille display and notetaker But prefer Piezo Braille it gives them another choice Without asking them to give up the practical features Orbit users already know Next we'll talk about the Orbit Strata 40 Pro as well as the 20 Pro Together The Strata 40 Pro and 20 Pro take the next step They combine Braille with speech audio Online services Book reading note taking and built in productivity tools Both products are built on the same powerful platform as the Orbit Speak Plus with refreshable Braille added Users can read books in Braille Write and edit documents listen to audio Access online libraries And use internet radio and podcast And move between real speech and audio depending on the task Strata 20 Pro is a highly portable model It is well suited for users who want a compact Device that can be carried easily throughout the day Strata 40 Pro gives users a full 40 cell Braille line Making it better suited for heavier reading editing School work and professional use These products are designed for users Who do not want to choose between Braille and audio They can use both in one device in the way that works best for them Now we'll talk about the Orbit Player Which is the daisy and media player Orbit Player is a compact daisy and media player Designed for accessible reading Learning music recording and online content It supports popular book and document formats including Daisy Epub DOCX PDF BRF BRL Text X t m L and more It supports popular audio formats including MP3 WAV WMA M4A FLAC and others The device includes physical buttons Tactile markings voice guidance Bookmarking search and multi level navigation by page section Chapter paragraph Sentence word and other units This makes it easy to move through structured books and documents Without relying on a touch screen Orbit Player includes Wi-Fi Bluetooth FM radio Internet radio podcast A voice recorder a built in speaker and microphone A headphone Jack USB C and a full sized SD card slot It has over 20 GB of internal storage And support SD cards up to two TB It also provides access to online libraries including Bookshare Gutenberg and support for many European library services For users who want a dedicated Accessible Reading and media device without the distractions of a smartphone Orbit player is a strong and practical solution Some recent additions to our orbit portfolio Orbit expanded its portfolio with a new generation of products Designed to support reading Note taking stem learning and digital access Orbit Speak is one such product Orbit Speak is a Pocket Braille notetaker with speech output Connectivity and productivity tools While Orbit Slate brings affordable Multi line refreshable Braille to users who need a More advanced reading surface Graffiti Plus Extends tactile graphics into a classroom ready display for charts Diagrams and interactive stem use The Orbit Reader Q20 and Q40 family Continue to anchor the portfolio by offering Dependable Braille access With modern connectivity and strong value Together these additions show a clear direction Broader capability lower barriers and stronger real world usefulness Now we'll talk about the affordable Braille products for all The Orbit Reader family remains central to Orbit's work In affordable Braille It consists of the Orbit Reader 20, Orbit Reader 20 Plus, Orbit Reader 40 Orbit Reader Q40 and the Orbit Reader Q20 All these products give users different choices Depending on their needs Some users want the smallest and most affordable Braille display Some want 40 cells some prefer a Perkins style Braille keyboard Others prefer a QWERTY keyboard for typing These products use Orbit's true Braille technology Based on our patented tactuated design They are known for affordability Firm Braille dots Rugged construction and practical features for reading Writing and connected screen reader use Next we'll talk about our Optima Braille laptop Orbit speak and Orbit Writer This part of the portfolio moves beyond stand alone reading And into productivity daily computing The Optima Braille laptop is designed to support users Who need a Braille Enable computing experience in a more integrated form factor While Orbit Speak provides a compact Braille notetaker with speech Output connectivity and apps for mobile productivity Orbit Writer adds another layer of portability And writing support for users who want a dedicated Braille Input and note taking experience Together these tools address different stages of education and work From classroom note taking to independent writing Device connectivity and everyday organization Orbit Player also fits naturally into this ecosystem By combining reading Media playback and recording in one portable device The common thread is independence Each product is designed to help users manage information Communicate And stay productive without needing a full size desktop setup Now we go into the Orbit Slate Which is our multi line Braille displays Orbit Slate is a major step forward Because it brings multi line Refreshable Braille into a more accessible price range The Slate 3 40 and the Slate 5 20 are designed for users and institutions That need broader reading surfaces For advanced study editing and Braille heavy workflows Multiline Braille matters Because it allows users to perceive structure Layout and relationships in text more naturally Especially when reading longer documents Or working across Braille lines at once That makes the slate series particularly valuable in education Research and specialized professional settings Orbit support materials for Slate 3 40 and 5 Twenty show the company's emphasis on practical Deployment and technical support Next we move on to graffiti and Graffiti Plus Which is our tactile graphic display products Graffiti and Graffiti Plus represent one of Orbit's Most important innovations For stem and visual access Graffiti was introduced as the world's first affordable Tactile graphics display using moving pins to represent charts Drawings flow charts Floor plans images and photographs through touch A key feature is the ability to set each pin to different heights Which lets the user feel richer surface details Such as topography and shading in a tactile form That opens the door to a new kind of learning Because students can now interact with diagrams And graphical information In real time instead of relying only on description For stem education that is transformative graphics Geometry and spatial relationships become understandable in a direct Hands on way Graffiti Plus extends the same concept into a more interactive And educationally useful product line Reinforcing Orbit's mission to make advanced learning accessible From the earliest stages onwards Next we go on to our digital magnifiers Which we call as Orbit Magna The Orbit Magna series addresses a different But equally important access need Low vision magnification Magna 3 Magna 4 and Magna 5 are designed to help users read printed materials View details and work with greater comfort and independence In practice Digital magnifiers can be essential for students Professionals and older adults who need strong visual support Without moving to a Braille only workflow Orbit emphasis on simplicity and reliability is important here Because magnifier users often want devices that turn on quickly Are easy to understand And perform consistently in everyday environments Next we talk about our talking calculators Which we call as Orion calculators The Orion calculators are built for accessible Mathematics and scientific use Orbit Orion family includes the models such as TI 30 XS and the TI 84+ variants The both these are the talking calculators Where TI 84+ gives us the graphic display as well It is designed to support student who need a calculator experience That works with accessibility in mind This matters because mathematics can be a major barrier When mainstream calculators are difficult to access through touch Speech or Braille workflows By offering accessible calculation tools Orbit helps learners participate more fully in class In exams and technical study Next we talk about the orbit apps The orbit software layer extends the value of its hardware The Orbit Teacher Remote And the Orbit Chat are examples of apps that help users collaborate Teach and communicate more effectively in inclusive environments These tools are especially important in classrooms Where a teacher may need to support a Braille user remotely Or coordinate interaction around accessible content By pairing apps with devices Orbit creates a more complete ecosystem Instead of isolated hardware products That means the user experience does not stop at the device level But it continues into support instruction Communication and day to day productivity And as accessibility demands grow These app based tools help orbit devices remain flexible And connected to modern workflows All these devices you know They are sophisticated tools and they have a transformative impact Across the portfolio Orbit's focus is practical impact A beginner Braille reader may start with an Orbit Reader 20 A student who needs more space may move to Orbit Reader 40 Strata 40 or Orbit Slate a user who wants Braille Speech and audio in one device may choose Strata Pro or Orbit Speak A student learning science Math geography Or engineering May use the Graffiti Plus to understand diagrams and graphs by touch A reader who wants books music Podcast recording and online libraries may use Orbit Player The products are different But the direction is consistent We want assistive technology to be more affordable More useful and more widely available Without asking users to accept weak or fragile tools The key is continuity The products grow with the user's needs Instead of forcing them to switch ecosystems Every time their requirements change That is especially important in education Where tools need to support long term progress Not just short term access Orbit's approach shows that accessibility technology Can be both sophisticated and practical When it it is designed around real learning journeys And now to close You know I would really like to thank you once again for joining us And at SightCity We are presenting a broader orbit portfolio than ever before Flow and Strata add new Braille choices Orbit Reader and Orbit Speak continue to work in affordable Braille and portable productivity Orbit Player gives users a dedicated Accessible reading and media device Orbit slate expands access to multiple Braille Graffiti and graffiti plus Bring tactile graphics into real time learning And stem access We would be glad to speak with distributors Schools agencies Libraries and users who want to learn more Evaluate the products or discuss pilot programs Please visit our website WWW dot orbit research.com Or contact us at sales at orbit research.com Once again thank you for your time And thank you for your interest In making accessible technology more practical And more widely available So now we open the floor for question and answers so You know I can take any questions if at all I can see like there are no chats no questions So if you have any questions Please feel free to ask any questions or You know you can always visit our website You can always write to us at sales at orbit research.com And we would be happy to answer your questions in detail I believe Yes we have one question Well when will be the Optima become available It's a very good question It will take maybe another two to three quarters So we are talking about You know the beginning of 27 or you know mid of 2027 So practically maybe 3 three quarters Three to four quarters from now So hopefully by next year may we should be available We should be the Optima should be available One more interesting topic is that If if you are interested in Optima You can always send us an email on sales at orbit research.com Mentioning that you are interested for Optima And You know we can We can Notify you because we have a special list Which we have created for all the people You know who are interested in Optima So as soon as the Optima will be available We will be sending you a notification That the Optima would be available And it is available to pre order So Please feel free to send us an email yeah Yep so If we don't have any questions We would like to close this session So yeah so I think I I thank you once and all for attending this session And it was quite a pleasure For us to present to you all our new Flow and Strata line of products And our Orbit Reader family so yeah Thank you and have a great day Take care bye bye We hope you enjoyed this presentation For more information Visit sightcity.net/O033072 Thank you and see you at the next SightCity