Through a couple of visits to The Blind People’s Association, Ahmedabad I realized that there’s almost nothing that they cannot do.
The divyang people are trained to do almost all the tasks that every able person can do. From using cellphones and enjoying videos on YouTube to playing Cricket and having a bank job.
All they wish to have is trust. Trust that they’re no different from us.
During one of my visits, I met Nilesh Patel. He attends an advanced computer learning course there and is totally blind.
After a long conversation about his life and leisure, I happened to ask him if he knows what a jigsaw puzzle is. Surprisingly, he who enjoys YouTube horror videos and playing music instruments, didn’t know what a jigsaw puzzle is.
It’s pretty obvious why his family didn’t introduce him to the puzzle game. But then I demonstrated him how it would be to play a puzzle (on my sketchbook), it seemed to be an exciting game and he was really keen to play something alike.
That, was basically where “Jodku” was born.
A puzzle for all. Jōdku, means a small group.
A puzzle for all. Jōdku, means a small group.
Jōdku is a 3D puzzle that involves the sense to touch to the preexisting concept of jigsaw puzzles in which a jumbled image is resolved. The basic idea behind Jōdku is to able total and partial blind people to play this beautiful game. The 3rd dimension to the puzzle can be given in a lot of ways like patterns, flow, cuts, topographies, animals, monuments, text, faces.
Initially, the concept was targeted to enable total blind people for playing the puzzle.
The crests and troughs are simple with minimal detail so that it doesn’t stress too much on the cognitive tactile memory.
Later, a color contrast was added to the puzzle so that even the partially blind can enjoy playing it. The crests are of brighter color with reference to snow capped mountains.
