Case Study on Upgrading Assistive Technology Product

This case study details Mistral's approach to upgrading an existing assistive technology product while maintaining its mechanical integrity. The focus is on an intelligent assistive device designed for visually impaired users, which enhances their access to work environments and improves academic and professional performance. The study outlines the transition from a single-board Braille Notetaker to a modular two-board solution utilizing Mistral’s 820 Nano System-on-Module powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. The redesign aimed to incorporate a more powerful and efficient System-on-Chip while ensuring compatibility with the existing product enclosure. Challenges included thermal management and the need for modifications to the Android framework to support non-standard hardware interfaces. The case study concludes with the benefits of the new design, including improved processing power, a familiar user interface, and faster time to market due to the existing processing engines on the 820 Nano SOM.