Karaoke Japan ground zero has produced machines in the past that have sought to bring the blind community into the jukebox hero party before, with tech largely only existing still within Japan’s boundaries, but now for the first time the blind community themselves have taken the reins and created a braille database of thousands of songs for free.
The Nagoya Braille Network has converted over 2,000 lyrics and counting to braille, of which uers can search for jams based on song title, artist, or songwriter, and produce lyric cards from printers designed specifically for braille. Those that wanted to participate in an activity like karaoke prior to the database, had to either print their own cards or memorize the lyrics themselves. Or of course, pony up for a Nippon Telesoft contraption or something like it.
Should you be thinking, what’s the difference between a machine crafting a braille translation and a human, well, think about the last time you put some foreign language lyrics into one of those Google translator jobbers — things, well, they get lost, as they say. The Nagoya network, along with a bounty of fellow blind support groups across the globe are making sure your “Don’t Stop Believing” and your “Yesterday” poetry stays intact.
In an interview with the Japan Times piece that broke the news of the project, blind volunteer Muneo Maeno offered up some old world vs new world reflection, explaining he used to carry a book of self-transcribed cards around with him, but, with the new database he’ll be able to sing any song he wants.
Here’s to hoping he’s got some Etta James in his back pocket:
