Braille tattoos for the blind

by Rigel Celeste (Subscribe to Rigel Celeste's posts)
Oct 22nd 2007 10:01AM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products

Tattoos are an artistic expression of individuality, style, and art, and have (until now) only been appreciated by those with the gift of sight. But now, through the efforts of a student at The University of Arts Berlin, you can also make a statement that can be felt and appreciated by the blind.

By having a series of small beads or a small plate embossed with text (made of stainless steel, titanium, or plastic) implanted under the skin you can have an expressive work of art that can be appreciated through both sight and touch. It's braille for your skin!

Would you do it? I'm thinking with color maybe, without it just looks an organized group of zits.

Via Trendhunter

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Comments (26)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Danny 10-22-2007 @ 1:23PM

I think this is one of those things that will eventually be found to cause some kind of disorder! But it does seem like a natural progression to regular ink tattoos - someone in Germany must have really wanted a blind loved one to be able to 'see' their 'ink'!!

Kristina 10-23-2007 @ 6:45AM

i think this is a wonderful idea!

kantwinnadda 10-23-2007 @ 7:48AM

It worries me a bit because I have "plastic" implants under the skin on my arm and from experience I know that they will move after awhile.
It's an awsome concept!!

paul 10-23-2007 @ 7:52AM

as a male i had little beads put under the skin in my umm male organ its a source of great pleasure to all involved

homebrewer 10-23-2007 @ 7:59AM

"On the chest of a barmaid in Vail,
Were tatooed the prices of ale,
And on her behind,
For the sake of the blind,
Was the same information in Braille."

This limerick is old as the hills, in fact I used it on the label of one of my brews nearly 15 years ago.

Mike F 10-23-2007 @ 8:46AM

whats next?Braille stop signs?or Braille traffic lights?Gie me a break.I feel sorry for the blind but this is just to much.

Lexi 10-23-2007 @ 9:47AM

I don' know any blind people and I have never even met a blind person. If I did know blind people then I might consider this. It isn't much fun to get body work done if you can't "show" it to someone.

geoff groedner 10-23-2007 @ 9:41AM

Reading this is incontrovertible proof that I have lived way too long. Next will be arena/stadium seats for the blind, flying lessons in braille and a brand new version of Demolition Derby on TV. The program will be only three minutes long.

toots 10-23-2007 @ 10:02AM

WELL AT LEAST THEY CAN TELL SOMEONE TO F OFF AND NO ONE WOULD KNOW IT LOL,LOL I MIGHT HAVE ONE TATTOOTED ON ME SO AS GUYS CAN COME UP TO ME AND RUB ME AND ASK WHAT IS THAT?

mike 10-23-2007 @ 10:07AM

The sample picture is pretty bad, maybe it says something significant in braille but of course almost anyone who could read it isn't going to be able to see the picture.

Like most tattoos, probably pictures or designs will be more popular than words. You can do brail bumps - you can also do larger beads and different shapes arrainged in any design you want. Or, like the Enigma (google image search him if you don't know who he is) you could get, say, small horns implanted under the skin of your forhead should you so desire.

And the use of subdermal implants in body modification isn't completely new, it's just been on the "extreme" fringes of body modification, partly because while tattoo artists are easy to find few people are competent to perform this mod. But the effects possible with subdermal implants can be quite striking and beautiful, and as it becomes more well known and available I expect more people to opt for it.

Jim Copeland 10-23-2007 @ 10:29AM

Morons are everywhere!The disease spreads!

Jim Copeland 10-23-2007 @ 10:31AM

The body is a Temple! So lets Desecrate it!

Hod 10-23-2007 @ 10:34AM

I like people with smooth skin.... When I see someone with bumpy skin I think that person is Nasty!!!!!

J - M - 10-23-2007 @ 10:45AM

I think this is a great way for people without sight to express themselves. I agree that the example above looks like nothing, but couldn't you get a regular tattoo of whatever you wanted, then have the bumps incorporated into the design. So the people who can see enjoy the body art as much as those who can only feel it. Why not? It's their bodies so let them do it! Oh - and Paul - this is very interesting... have not heard of this in the US... Where did you find a place that does this??? I might have to get my boyfriend to that place... LOL ... ... ...

Holly 10-23-2007 @ 11:09AM

Sweet! I think this a great idea. Im not blind and have 13 tats. Would be interested in this because it seems a little less painful than branding. Where do I sign up?

W. B. Wilhite 10-23-2007 @ 11:44AM

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then some will find intentionally disfigured skin to be beautiful, whether it is in the form of ink or bumps or both. To me, all intentional disfigurement is about the ugliest thing a person could do, either to themselves or others. I will not show it publicly. Nevertheless, I detest tattoos. I will keep my distance and minimize all visible contact.

James 10-23-2007 @ 12:39PM

Looks like monkeypox to me.

PencilCozy 10-24-2007 @ 7:11PM

It says Sun. It's written sideways going down the arm. It probably looks like nothing since none of you know braille.

Oh and how does the tattoo lead to the blind driving? I'm getting something similar to that to honor my mom. A new twist on the classic Mom Heart.