6-Dot Brick

Hands-on Braille learning with LEGO® bricks and accessible digital feedback

6-Dot Brick supports Braille learning through LEGO® bricks, object recognition, and audio feedback. The project connects tactile, hands-on exploration with an iOS app to make Braille practice more engaging and accessible for learners with visual impairments. Created by Alp Özpamir, it won the 2023 Apple Swift Student Challenge.

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Overview

Information on this page is provided by the innovator and has not been evaluated by HundrED.

Updated October 2026

Web presence

2023

Established

11.9K 2026

30

Countries

Community

Target group

I hope to see accessible learning tools designed with different ways of sensing and learning in mind from the beginning. Through 6-Dot Brick, I want tactile play and accessible feedback to help make Braille practice more engaging. My long-term goal is to keep developing practical, inclusive resources with feedback from learners and people who support Braille education, so that technology can contribute to participation and independence.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

I created 6-Dot Brick to explore how familiar, hands-on materials and accessible digital tools could support Braille learning. My interest in LEGO® and inclusive design led me to connect tactile exploration with object recognition and spoken feedback. I wanted to build a practical project that brings together play, technology, and accessibility for learners with visual impairments.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

6-Dot Brick combines LEGO® bricks with an iOS app for Braille practice. Learners explore tactile brick arrangements, while object recognition and audio feedback connect physical patterns with spoken information. The project uses machine learning and text-to-speech functionality to support interactive learning. It is designed as a learning resource that can complement hands-on guidance from families, educators, and Braille instructors.

How has it been spreading?

As of October 2026, 6-Dot Brick has directly reached more than 11,900 people across 30 countries. This is cumulative direct reach, not an app-download figure. The project has no fixed age limit and is intended for people interested in accessible Braille learning. It won the Apple Swift Student Challenge in 2023, one of 375 worldwide winning projects, and the app was published on the App Store. Through volunteering with TÜRGÖK, I have supported children with visual impairments in learning the Braille alphabet using the app and creating LEGO® mosaics and models.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

Download 6-Dot Brick from the App Store. Visit 6-dotbrick.org for project information. Prepare a 2×3 LEGO® brick and five round tiles, then explore the app’s Braille learning and phone-camera object detection activities. The app supports English and Turkish. Adapt practice to the learner’s needs and experience with Braille.

For collaboration, contact me through alpozpamir.com.

Watch Brick-Up x HundrED — LEGO Stop Motion for Social Impact, a short introduction to the social impact work behind these projects.

Media

Photo

6-Dot Brick — four learning sections: letters and sounds, Braille patterns, phone-camera object detection, and interactive exercises. Original project screenshots.

Photo

Brick by Brick, Letter by Letter: Braille Literacy Enhanced by Machine Learning. 6-Dot Brick combines LEGO® construction, phone-camera object detection, and audio feedback. Original project graphic.

Video

Brick-up x HundrED | LEGO Stop Motion for Social Impac

Brick-Up x HundrED — LEGO Stop Motion for Social Impact. A short video introducing the social impact work behind my inclusive learning projects. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw9m_F_HSJ4

Photo

Brick by Brick, Letter by Letter: Braille Literacy Enhanced by Machine Learning. 6-Dot Brick combines LEGO® construction, phone-camera object detection, and audio feedback. Original app graphic; edges and background cleaned with AI for presentation.

Photo

6-Dot Brick — four learning sections: letters and sounds, Braille patterns, phone-camera object detection, and interactive exercises. Original app screenshots; edges and background cleaned with AI for presentation.

Link

6-dot brick App - App Store

Download 6-Dot Brick on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/6-dot-brick/id6449951703 An accessible Braille-learning app combining LEGO® bricks, object recognition, and audio feedback. Available in English and Turkish.

Implementation steps

1. Download the app and prepare the materials

Download 6-Dot Brick from the App Store. Prepare a 2×3 LEGO® brick and five round tiles. Choose English or Turkish in the app and explore the main menu.

2. Explore letters and Braille patterns

Start with the app’s letter-learning sections. Listen to phonetic words and sound effects, then explore Braille equivalents for letters, numbers, and punctuation. Handle the brick while listening and work at a comfortable pace.

3. Build a Braille character and use the camera

Use a 2×3 LEGO® brick and round tiles to build a Braille character. Open the camera-based activity on your phone and hold the construction in view. The app uses object detection through the phone camera to recognise the LEGO® arrangement and provide audio feedback. Adjust the construction and try again as needed.

4. Practise with the interactive exercises

Try the exercise section by building the missing Braille character in a word. Show the construction to the camera for feedback, then repeat with different characters. Learners, families, and educators can adapt the pace and amount of support to individual needs.