The Omnifer is an iPad cover that is designed to make the iPad accessible to those who are visually impaired. The intelligent concept is an entry for the Industrial Designers Society of America’s IDEA award 2011.   The lightweight 3 panel flip cover switches between functioning in braille mode and acting as a protective cover for the tablet. Inside the thin overlay there are gas pockets which expand when exposed to light, which in turn raises the braille dots. Using this sophisticated technology, the iPad can automatically stream text from apps into braille format.   It is exciting to see how innovations such as this can enrich peoples’ lifestyles. We have seen similiar concepts that use interactive technology to improve communication, such as the Rubik’s Cube for the blind which is part of MoMA’s Talk To Me exhibition that we recently featured.