Hello there

My name is Einar Petersen, I am the author of Implant! a scifi short that was turned into a comic book a while back, it was actually crowdfunded a couple of years ago.

I have set forth on production of a tactile version of Implant! yes that is correct, I am creating a comic book that will be readable by the visually impaired.

During this campaign I will be taking your through the development of the projec. We're halfway done already and production of the last tactile pages has been funded and production is ongoing, I am expecting them to be ready for beta testing early in the new year.

But before I tell you more about it, I want you to think about this fact.

There are about 39 million completely blind people globally and hundreds of millions of visually impaired (Source WHO). There are even more people out there who can't read either for medical or educational reasons.

This crowdfunding effort is for them. (But why do you need more funding now if your tactile comic is funded?)

You see, during the production of the Braille enabled version of Implant! I've found another way of making comic books readable by the visually impaired. This development happened as a result of talks with my backers as well as due to some facts about Braille that came to light.

The method I have been able to demonstrate is something that can be done at near zero cost using off the shelf components and I want to share this concept with you all and I want to share Implant! as a comic book readable by the visually impaired using this method as well as quickly as possible and with as many as possible in the hope to inspire other creators to do the same for their comic book creations.

When I say demonstrated I have had the fortunate chance to get a page of this non tactile but still readable by the visually impaired prototype "field tested" in Finland.

I've tried to distill the experience into some main points from the first blind Finnish reader as brought forward to me by our volunteer in Finland, something that has left me absolutely certain I am on the right path.

On the graphical lay out of the QR pages in Finnish:

"Everything is in its correct place and seems to work well on iOS! Wonderful".

I have tested in Android myself with the same result (campaign owner).

On the experience (from the blind readers and demonstrators "POV"):

My friend, (let's call him Kylen), didn't feel comfortable with being on camera but asked if I could write and tell his thoughts to you. What Kylen said was:

"Ok, English version works better since the QR reader's spoken translation (speech) is more clear."

"I enjoyed Finnish way way more nevertheless because it's cool to have it in your own language. To be honest it makes me feel valued."

And right there Kylen hit on something important as he repeated that word "valued" to our volunteer who told me in his own words "This project is a great reminder of the fact that we should never forget the individuals in our society who aren't able to do everything that we take for granted!"

This really hit's home doesn't it?

- This is exactly why projects and releases like this have to happen!

I have written a booklet on the concept that is at the editors at the moment so feedback like that is priceless - I am so happy to see the project have impact already.

So join me in making Implant! readable by the visually impaired - Not just in tactile format and in English and Braille.

Let's make this happen in QR enhanced form (QRE) as well and to show other comic book creators, caregivers, institutions and the general public how this can be done easily and cheaply.

What we are about to do here is establishing the ground work needed for visually impaired people to be able to explore a comic-book perhaps for the first time in their lives; it is their chance to feel the same love as you do when you turn the pages and follow your favorite heroes, don't you want to share that love?

Academic recognition

The tactile project that is ongoing along with the addition of a QR enhanced comic making it possible to get mainstream comic books readable by the visually impaired quickly and cheaply has caught the eye of Professor Nick Sousanis, who is an Eisner-winning comics author and assistant professor of Humanities & Liberal Studies at San Francisco State University.

He has listed the Kickstarter project A Brilliant Implant! that I recently did for the tactile version of Implant! as a resource on the Graphic Medicine Trauma page http://spinweaveandcut.com/graphic-medicine-tra...

It is hard to describe how jazzed I am about that!

QR coded content and tactile IRL books are merely the top of the iceberg in my intended exploration of creating comic books readable by the visually impaired, there is much more in store once the ball gets rolling.

But what if you are not blind? What you get in return?...

Well, at the moment, I can offer you a digital download of Implant! the story the project is based upon, as soon as the crowdfunding period ends.

I'll also throw in a preview of another comic book of mine called Outlandish Accusations! about an Alien Spaceship Captain accused of Alien Abduction in a court in Las Vegas. The latter is drawn by the Swedish Comic Book Artist Per Hedman who is known for his hilarious Vader'isms drawn in a complete Gary Larson'esque style. He is know for The Far Dark Side on Twitter and on his Facbook page.

As for other rewards I can offer a chat for those of you wanting to chip in with a bit more, perhaps you are a comic book creator, or a comic book lover who'd like to know more...

Or maybe you just want to hear how the weather is in Denmark at the moment...

I've created a tier for helping you to turn your comic book into a QRE comic if you don't think you can do it yourself. How about, does getting a personal consultant sound like something you fancy?

As I go along on my journey I am trying to document everything to make it easier for others to follow as well, so you should be following my project or newsletter no matter what, so you don't loose out. Sign up at https://tinyletter.com/einarpetersen to follow all my creative endeavors. Signing up or following the project here will also get you the news when I release my howto booklet on doing the above.

So whats the plan?

During this crowdfunder I will be taking you through the first half of the pages of Implant! panel by panel in tactile format to where we are today with the tactile version so that you can get an idea of what I am trying to achieve regarding comic books readable by the visually impaired in physical form other than QRE Comics. I expect to also share perhaps a sneak preview or two of QRE pages of the standard comic book as we go along as well.

All that said I trust you too will support this, well, shall we call it, twist on the comic book genre, and help me make comic books accessible to the visually impaired and blind worldwide by taking comics into the unseen domain. Share your love of comics together with me, lets make this happen!

Kind Regards

Einar Petersen

Implant! in the news media:

Dimmalætting - https://dimma.fo/grein/ger-teknirod-til-blind-o... (in Faroese language)

KVF: Faroese National Radio talking about Braille enabled comics and crowdfunding https://kvf.fo/gmf?sid=114762 (In Faroese language)

What other creators have said about the tactile Kickstarter project:

COMIC BOOKS FOR THE BLIND?! Here's an honourable project by Einar Petersen who wants to produce a comic for the blind and visual impaired. Want to help him out?

Barry Lumsden creator, Rona

First we have this great looking project by Einar Petersen who is looking to raise funds to help make his comic book IMPLANT readable by visually impaired and blind people. This looks like a really interesting avenue and of course a worthy cause.

Fraser Campbell creator, IND-XED

We wanted to also spotlight another project. A longtime fan of ours Einar Petersen has a project running now on Kickstarter as well. The project is trying to convert an already published comic into something that can be read by the blind. It is a very ambitious project, and we'd love it if you could show it a little support. It looks pretty cool too the way they plan on making this accessible for the visually impaired. You should take a look.

The Creators of Time Trader, published by Rogue Matter from Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA

A Brailliant Implant.I came across this project that sounded really interesting. This is a sci-fi short that has the added benefit of making comics readable by blind. The creator is using the Kickstarter to explore methods for comic books to be converted into a format fully readable by the visually impaired, both physically and virtually online.

Steven Prince, creator, Monster Matador Tango of the Matadors

Today's recommendation is a bit different to the other projects I've shared, although this is still comic related. It's a project called A Brailliant Implant! from Einar Peterson. He is trying to create a way to help visually impaired people to not just read the words in his comic, but be able to feel the pictures too. Please take some time to check it out and back it, it's a very modest amount he's looking for so please be generous.

James Stimpson creator, The List #3 - Not your normal Christmas tale

This one is a little bit different, but I thought it was a super interesting project that deserves attention. Creator Einar Petersen is raising funds to produce a prototype comic book that can be read by the visually impaired, both in-person and online.

Einar plans to do this through a combination of vacuum-formed raised panels and braille dialogue/descriptions. It's a great Idea that could hopefully help bring a whole new world of comics to those who have been unable to enjoy them in the past.

Andrew Clemson creator, Damsel from D.I.S.T.R.E.S.S!

And I want to give a shout out to Einar Petersen and his project. He previously successfully funded his comic called IMPLANT on Kickstarter and has his sights set on an amazing brand new idea. He's attempting to convert and transform his comic into something that can be enjoyed by the visually impaired. He calls it a Brailliant Implant!

That's right, he's making a comic for the blind!!! I'm amazed and inspired by this idea. He's already passed his goal, he's not looking for much but the more he can raise the better he can make this amazing concept. Please take a moment to give his campaign a look, I believe it's a pretty noble effort.

Wes Hartman creator, the Savage Sasquanaut

IMPLANT!

by Einar Petersen & Ira Black

Of all the Kickstarters I've seen, this one is pretty special. Einar & Ira are making a graphic novel for the blind! That's right, this comic is going to be printed on a 3D printer specifically for the visually impaired! That alone makes it worth looking at (if you'll pardon the expression).

The story is about Kyle Monahan, a loner drifting through the streets of a techno-dystopian future New York City. For years Kyle has battled the system as part of an underground hacking movement, founded long before the visionaries of tech launched their war on privacy, dredging all personal information into colossal, all-encompassing databases. Now he is on the last leg of his mission to corrupt the tracking implants of as many as possible before The Big Blackout commences.

This is definitely on for the CyberPunks out there. Fans of Neuromancer, Snow Crash, and Blade Runner will love IMPLANT!

Nathan Lueth, the creator of IMPURE BLOOD

Honestly I can't begin to describe what it means to me to have other creators do such shout-out's for Implant!

Having it referred to by award winning creators and Professors like that... put mildly, holy mackarel Batman, I am having an amazing time doing this project .

- It is insanely hard work but worth it all!

Risks and challenges

The original digital copy of Implant! already exists, I am done creating all the QR ccodes needed for the English language QRE version of Implant! which will be digital also - So No risk there - Delivery of original non QRE and QRE version in English, as soon as crowdfunding ends.

The only risk as I can see it is if a contractor/volunteer doing the QR conversion into French or Finnish runs off without completing the work then I will have to find an alternate solution, which would mean a minor delay only. So basically I'd say the risk is virtually null and void

QRE Comic Books readable by the visually impaired