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NUR
Product Design Specification
Internal Document · v3.0 · March 2026 · ~15 min read
"Usage defines the design. Not the other way around."
Product images are conceptual visualizations. Arabic text in images serves as illustration. Final products may differ.
Daily Use Cases
How People Use NUR Every Day
The core scenarios that define every hardware decision. If these don't work perfectly, nothing else matters.
Silent Quran Reading
Who: Every Muslim · When: Mornings before Fajr, evenings after Isha · Where: At home
- Open Quran (any publisher, any typeface)
- Put on glasses (or clip-on to own prescription glasses)
- Place pen on line → LED glows green
- Slide across the line
- 1× click → Recitation via bone conduction
- 2× click → Translation as AR overlay
- 3× click → Word-by-word breakdown
Product Requirements
- Glasses comfortable for 30+ minutes (under 40g)
- Pen lightweight like a ballpoint (under 20g)
- Bone conduction: family not disturbed, ear stays free for Azan
- Text recognition in under 1 second
Prayer (Salah) — Live Guide
Who: Converts, children · When: 5× daily · Where: Everywhere
- Put on glasses → Prayer mode (double-click temple arm or automatic)
- Qiyam: Glasses show "Allahu Akbar" + transliteration + meaning
- Ruku: "SubhanaRabbiyal Azim × 3" with counter
- Sujud: "SubhanaRabbiyal A'la × 3"
- Tashahhud: Full text At-Tahiyyatu
- After each rakat → next sequence automatically
Product Requirements
- Motion sensor detects body position (gyroscope/accelerometer)
- NO pen needed — hands are occupied during prayer
- No sound in prayer mode (visual only) — respect for others praying
- Counter for repetitions (3× Tasbeeh)
Memorization (Hifz)
Who: Hifz students, Huffaz · When: 1-2h daily · Where: Madrasa, at home
- Pen rests on the page (marks starting point)
- Learning phase: 3× click → word-by-word with repetition
- Test phase: Close eyes, recite from memory
- Glasses LISTEN (microphone) and compare with text
- On error → pen vibrates + correct word is whispered
- "I'm stuck" → 1× click → whisper next word
- Nobody else notices — silent help
Product Requirements
- Microphone in glasses for speech recognition
- Vibration in pen for silent error feedback
- Spaced repetition algorithm
- Progress export for Hifz teachers
Father Teaches Child
Who: Parents + children · When: Evenings after Maghrib · Where: At home
- Father marks word → speaker plays audio (not bone conduction)
- Child repeats the word
- Father clicks forward → next word
- Child earns stars for correct repetitions
Product Requirements
- Speaker mode (switchable from bone conduction)
- Multi-device pairing: 2 pens with 1 system
- Child mode: larger text, gamification, slower pace
Extended Use Cases
Beyond Daily Reading — The Full Deen
Madrasa (1 Teacher → Many Students)
Model: 1 teacher pen + 20 affordable student glasses (display only, no AI)
Key Insight
- Broadcast mode: Teacher marks → ALL glasses show the same text
- Student glasses: display + BLE receiver only → EUR 15-20 unit cost
- Teacher dashboard: sees who keeps up, who falls behind
- Opens the institutional market
Hajj / Umrah — AR Guide
When: Hajj season · Where: Makkah/Madinah · Conditions: 45°C+, massive crowds
Features
- GPS-based station detection (Tawaf, Sa'i, Arafat)
- Tawaf counter via motion sensor (round 3/7)
- Station-specific duas pre-installed
- Heat resistant, extra battery, OFFLINE (no signal in crowds)
Technical Reality: How Does Recognition Work?
LED on the pen = user feedback only, NOT the recognition signal. The pen sends its position via Bluetooth (BLE). The glasses camera recognizes Arabic text optically (OCR). The LED only shows the user "I'm marking here" — it is not critical for functionality.
Problem in direct sunlight (Africa, 45°C+): The AR display (green overlay) is barely visible above 10,000 Lux. MicroLED displays have limitations in bright daylight. Solution: Audio mode. Instead of showing the translation visually, bone conduction/speaker whispers the meaning. Works always, regardless of lighting conditions.
Camera OCR works in sunlight too — like a phone camera. Modern computer vision (ViT models) can recognize Arabic text even in challenging lighting. Adaptive exposure + contrast normalization are standard.
Design Consequences
- Audio mode as equal fallback — not just for visually impaired, but for ALL outdoor scenarios
- LED brightness adjustable (low indoors, high outdoors) or fully disableable
- AR display with high-brightness mode (like phone screen in sun)
- Pocket Device in Off-Grid Kit: audio-only mode as default, visual optional
Off-Grid Scenarios
No Electricity, No Internet, No Teacher
The Impact Kit for regions where nothing is available — no smartphone, no WiFi, no power outlet.
Village Without Infrastructure
Devices: Pen + Pocket Device + Speaker + Solar · NO Glasses
Critical Design Question
Without glasses camera — how does the system recognize text?
Option A: Pocket Device with camera (more expensive, but universal)
Option B: Cheap smartphone (EUR 30 Android) as camera substitute
Option C: Audio-only per page/line (no OCR, pre-installed)
Impact Kit Requirements
- IP54+ (dust/water resistant)
- 12+ hours battery (full day)
- Speaker loud enough for outdoor groups
- 3-button operation (no touchscreen needed)
- No literacy prerequisite — purely audio-based
Product Modes
9 Modes — Derived from Real Scenarios
| Mode | Pen | Glasses | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recitation | 1× click | Display + Audio | Audio | Hear the verse recited |
| Translation | 2× click | AR Overlay | Text + Audio | See/hear the meaning |
| Word-by-Word | 3× click | Breakdown | Breakdown | Each word individually |
| Hifz | Rests on page | Listens | Tracks errors | Memorize with silent help |
| Prayer | — | Prayer text | — | Automatic position detection |
| Hajj | — | AR Guide + GPS | — | Station-based guidance |
| Teaching | Teacher pen | Broadcast | Dashboard | 1 teacher → many students |
| Off-Grid | Marks | — | Camera + Audio | No glasses, no phone |
| Child | Marks | Optional | Gamification | Stars, sounds, simple |
Hardware Specification
Four Devices. One Ecosystem.
Smart Pen
Weight: < 20g
Length: 145mm
Material: Anodized Aluminium
Battery: 8+ hours
Charging: USB-C
Connection: BLE 5.0
Interaction: 1 button (1×/2×/3×/long)
Feedback: LED tip + vibration
Smart Glasses — The Brain
Camera: OmniVision 5MP
Display: MicroLED (green overlay)
Audio: Bone conduction (Shokz)
Processor: ESP32-S3
Sensors: Gyroscope, accelerometer
Microphone: Yes (Hifz mode)
Form: Clip-on (compatible with prescription glasses)
Battery: 4+ hours active
Design Reference
Simple clip-on design, no futuristic sci-fi glasses. Comparable to affordable Chinese AR clips (Rokid/Xreal level), but simpler: only 1 prism display + camera + BLE. Must fit any prescription glasses. Robust polycarbonate, not fragile.
Pocket Device
Size: Credit card format+
Display: E-Ink 2.13" (optional)
Speaker: 2W Class-D (loud for groups)
Battery: 2000mAh LiPo (12+ hours)
Camera: OV2640 (Off-Grid Kit)
Protection: IP54+ (dust/water)
Controls: 3 buttons (no touch needed)
Storage: 8GB Flash — full Quran offline
Foldable Solar Panel — Off-Grid Power
Power: 5V / 5W
Type: Monocrystalline cells
Size (folded): 15 × 10 cm
Size (open): 30 × 20 cm
Weight: ~120g
Output: USB-A (standard cable)
Charge time: ~3h Pocket Device (full sun)
Protection: IPX4 (splash water)
Charges Pocket Device + Pen simultaneously. 3 hours of sun = full day of operation. Designed for regions without power outlets.
System Architecture
Data Flow Between Devices
What runs where? Which device does what?
┌────────────────┐ BLE 5.0 ┌──────────────────────────┐
│ SMART PEN │ ──────────────── │ SMART GLASSES │
│ │ Button Events │ │
│ nRF52832 │ Position Data │ ESP32-S3 (The Brain) │
│ LED + Vibrate │ ◄────────────── │ Camera → OCR → Matching │
│ 1 Button │ Feedback Cmds │ Display ← Translation │
│ 200mAh │ │ Audio ← Recitation │
└────────────────┘ │ IMU → Prayer Detection │
│ Mic → Hifz Listening │
└────────┬─────────────────┘
│ BLE / WiFi
┌────────┴─────────────────┐
│ APP (Phone) OR │
│ POCKET DEVICE │
│ │
│ Quran DB (6,236 Ayahs) │
│ 40+ Translations │
│ 20+ Reciters (Audio) │
│ Hifz Progress Tracking │
│ Spaced Repetition │
└──────────────────────────┘
Pen (nRF52832)
Sends button events (1×/2×/3×) via BLE. Receives LED color + vibration commands. No own processing — pure I/O.
Glasses (ESP32-S3) — The Brain
Camera stream → on-device OCR (ViT model, ~300ms). Quran matching (local DB, ~50ms). Result → display + audio. IMU → prayer detection. Mic → Hifz comparison.
App / Pocket — Storage + UI
Stores Quran DB, translations, audio. Synchronizes progress. Extended UI for settings, Hifz dashboard, teacher export. Pocket = same logic without touchscreen.
BLE Communication Protocol
Pen → Glasses:
Button event (1 byte: 0x01=1×, 0x02=2×, 0x03=3×, 0x04=long). Battery status every 60s. Auto-reconnect on connection loss.
Glasses → Pen:
LED control (color + brightness, 2 bytes). Vibration (pattern + duration, 2 bytes). Status feedback (recognized/not recognized).
Glasses → App/Pocket:
OCR result (Surah:Ayah:Word, 4 bytes). Hifz data (error position + correct/incorrect). Progress sync. WiFi for larger transfers (audio files).
Latenz-Budget (unter 400ms gesamt):
BLE 10ms → Camera 30ms → OCR 300ms → Matching 50ms → Display 10ms = 400ms total
Power Budget — Battery Life Calculation
| Device | Capacity | Consumption (active) | Consumption (idle) | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pen | 200mAh | ~15mA (BLE + LED) | ~0.1mA (Deep Sleep) | 12+ hours active |
| Glasses | 400mAh | ~90mA (camera+OCR+display+audio) | ~5mA (BLE standby) | 4+ hours active |
| 2000mAh | ~120mA (speaker+camera+processing) | ~2mA (E-Ink + sleep) | 14+ hours active |
Optimization Strategies
- Camera on demand: Stream starts when pen button pressed, stops after 3s inactivity
- ESP32-S3 light sleep: ~5mA between OCR requests (instead of ~90mA at full load)
- Display off by default: MicroLED only active when result is shown (auto-off after 10s)
- USB-C fast charging: Pen in 30min, glasses in 45min, pocket in 2h
Bill of Materials
Component Costs at 10,000 Units
Realistic BOM based on Shenzhen component prices (LCSC/Mouser). All prices in EUR, excl. tooling.
| Component | Specification | Unit Price |
|---|---|---|
| SMART PEN | ||
| MCU | nRF52832 BLE SoC (Nordic Semi) | €1.50 |
| LED | Green SMD LED (0603) | €0.10 |
| Button | Taktiler Schalter (Omron B3U) | €0.05 |
| Vibration | LRA vibration motor (Jinlong) | €0.30 |
| Battery | 200mAh LiPo + protection circuit | €0.80 |
| USB-C | Charging port + ESD protection | €0.20 |
| PCB | 2-Layer, 60×8mm | €0.40 |
| Enclosure | CNC Anodized Aluminium | €2.50 |
| Assembly + QC | SMT + THT + Functional test | €1.50 |
| Pen Total | €7.35 | |
| SMART GLASSES | ||
| MCU | ESP32-S3 (Espressif, 16MB Flash) | €3.00 |
| Camera | OmniVision OV5640 5MP AF | €2.50 |
| Display | MicroLED Modul (gruenes Overlay) | €4.00 |
| Audio | Bone conduction transducer | €2.50 |
| IMU | MPU6050 (Gyro + Accelerometer) | €0.80 |
| Microphone | MEMS (InvenSense ICS-43434) | €0.40 |
| Battery | 400mAh LiPo (temple-integrated) | €1.00 |
| Antenna + PCB | Flex-PCB + BLE ceramic antenna | €1.00 |
| Enclosure | Polycarbonate frame + Clip-On | €2.00 |
| Assembly + QC | SMT + Optics calibration | €2.00 |
| Glasses Total | €19.20 | |
| POCKET DEVICE | ||
| MCU | ESP32-S3 (16MB Flash, 8MB PSRAM) | €3.00 |
| Display | E-Ink 2.13" (Waveshare-kompatibel) | €3.00 |
| Speaker | 2W Class-D Amp + Speaker | €0.80 |
| Camera | OV2640 2MP (Off-Grid Version) | €1.50 |
| Battery | 2000mAh LiPo + BMS | €2.00 |
| Storage | 8GB eMMC Flash | €1.50 |
| Charge IC | USB-C + Solar input (TP4056) | €0.80 |
| Enclosure | ABS IP54 (Injection mold) | €1.50 |
| Assembly + QC | SMT + seal test | €1.50 |
| Pocket Total | €15.60 | |
| SOLAR PANEL | ||
| Cells | 5V/5W Monokristallin (faltbar) | €3.50 |
| Controller | Charge IC (TP4056 + MPPT) | €0.30 |
| Output | USB-A Buchse | €0.20 |
| Enclosure | Nylon folding case | €1.50 |
| Cable + Assembly | USB-C cable + packaging | €0.80 |
| Solar Total | €6.30 | |
Essentials Kit
€26.55
Pen + Glasses
RRP €129 → 79% margin
Independence Kit
€42.15
Pen + Glasses + Pocket
RRP €189 → 78% margin
Impact Kit
€48.45
Everything incl. Solar
RRP €249 → 81% margin
Packaging + Shipping
€3-5
Custom box + guide
per kit, excl. freight
Note: Margins before Sadaqah (20% of RRP), marketing, end-customer shipping, and platform fees. Real net margin after all deductions: ~40-50%. At 50K+ units, BOM costs decrease ~15-20% through volume discounts.
Cost Reduction at Scale
1K Units
€35-48
10K Units
€27-42
50K Units
€22-35
100K+ Units
€18-28
Scale effects through volume discounts on components, cheaper injection mold amortization, and optimized logistics.
Supply Chain & Production
From Shenzhen to Hamburg
The entire supply chain — from component sourcing to end customer.
1
Component Sourcing
Primary source: Shenzhen (Huaqiangbei + LCSC/Mouser). ESP32-S3 directly from Espressif (authorized distributor). OmniVision camera modules via Arrow Electronics. MicroLED displays via JBD (Shanghai) or Vuzix (US). Bone conduction transducers via Sonion or local Shenzhen suppliers.
2
PCB Manufacturing & Assembly
Prototypes: JLCPCB/PCBWay (5-10 day turnaround, from €2/unit). Production from 1K: EMS partner in Shenzhen (e.g. Foxconn SMT line or mid-size EMS like GoerTek). Flex PCB for glasses: specialized manufacturer (e.g. Zhen Ding Technology).
3
Enclosures & Tooling
Pen: CNC aluminium (no tooling costs, economical from 100 units). Glasses: Injection-molded polycarbonate (tool ~€8-12K, amortized at 5K+). Pocket: Injection-molded ABS IP54 (tool ~€5-8K). Solar: Nylon folding case (standard parts, no custom tooling).
4
Final Assembly & Quality Control
100% functional test (BLE pairing, camera focus, LED, vibration, audio). AQL 2.5 for cosmetic defects. Optics calibration for glasses (AR overlay alignment). Firmware flash + QR code pairing test. Packaging in custom box with quick-start guide (3 languages: DE/EN/AR).
5
Logistics
Sea freight Shenzhen → Hamburg: ~€2-3K per container (40ft, ~2,000 kits). Transit: 28-35 days. Customs via freight forwarder (import VAT 19% + duty ~2.5%). Warehouse: fulfillment center in DE (Amazon FBA or own 3PL). Delivery to end customer: DHL/Hermes (DE) or Amazon Prime.
Tooling Budget (One-Time)
Glasses injection mold: €8-12K
Pocket injection mold: €5-8K
Pen CNC setup: €1-2K
Total tooling: ~€14-22K. One-time, amortized from batch 2.
Certification & Compliance
Regulatory Path to EU + US
All required certifications for selling in DACH, UK, and USA.
CE Marking — EMC (EN 55032/55035) + Safety (EN 62368-1) + RED (2014/53/EU for BLE)
€5-10K / device
FCC Part 15 — Unintentional Radiator + BLE-Modul (ESP32 hat pre-certified Module)
€5-8K / device
RoHS 2 Compliance — Material tests (no heavy metals). Standard with brand components.
€1-2K / Linie
UN 38.3 Batterietest — Transport certification for LiPo batteries (required for air/sea freight)
€2-3K
WEEE Registration — E-waste registration required in DE (Stiftung EAR)
€500-1K
IP54 Schutztest — Dust + splash water for Pocket Device and Solar Panel
€1-2K
Total Certification Budget
€30-50K
All 4 devices, EU + US. One-time.
Shortcut: Pre-Certified Module
ESP32-S3 modules from Espressif are already FCC/CE pre-certified. This saves ~50% of BLE certification costs. Same applies to Nordic nRF52832 in the pen.
Manufacturer FAQ
Questions a Manufacturer Would Ask
BLE Pairing: How do pen and glasses connect?
→ Auto-pairing on power-on (like AirPods). No manual setup. LED blinks green = connected.
Latency Budget: How fast must OCR be?
→ Under 1 second from pen lift to result. ESP32-S3 handles inference in ~300ms. Quran matching: ~50ms (local DB).
AI Model Update: How is OCR improved without internet?
→ Model is pre-installed (30+ typefaces trained). Updates optional via USB-C or WiFi when available.
Battery Dead: What happens when glasses die?
→ Pen continues working with Pocket Device/App (just without AR). Glasses show 15min warning. Hifz progress is stored locally.
Prescription Wearers: Works with eyeglasses?
→ Clip-on design fits any glasses. Alternatively: standalone frame with optional corrective lenses (Phase 2).
Unit Cost at 10K: Realistic?
→ See detailed BOM table above. Pen ~€7.35, glasses ~€19.20, pocket ~€15.60. Solar ~€6.30.
First Prototype
From Concept to Functional Prototype
What do we need to build the FIRST functional prototype? Minimum viable hardware.
Week 1-4: Proof of Concept
- Order ESP32-S3 DevKit + OmniVision camera module (~€30)
- Train Arabic OCR model (Hugging Face ViT, 30+ typefaces)
- Establish BLE connection between ESP32 and smartphone
- Result: Camera recognizes Arabic text → shows translation on phone
Week 5-8: Hardware Integration
- 3D-printed glasses enclosure (Shapeways/local printer)
- Install camera + ESP32 + BLE in glasses enclosure
- Pen: Arduino Nano BLE + LED + button in pen housing
- NUR App: implement BLE pairing + live camera feed
- Result: Pen marks → glasses recognize → app shows result
Week 9-12: User Testing
- Build 5-10 prototypes for testers in Munich/Berlin
- Testers: converts, families, Hifz students
- Collect feedback: What works? What doesn't?
- Improve OCR model with real-world data
- Result: Validated prototype + user feedback for Phase 2
Estimated cost for 10 prototypes: ~€3,000-5,000 (components + 3D printing + shipping). No investor needed — bootstrappable from e-commerce revenue.
Revenue Model
Three Revenue Streams. Not Just Hardware.
1. Hardware Sales
~70% Revenue
€129-399 kits. Gross margin 78-81%. Sales via Shopify, Amazon, mosque partnerships, Islamic bookstores. B2B: Madrasa bundles (20+ kits with volume discount). No subscriptions — one-time purchase model protects community trust.
2. App Premium (Optional)
~15% Revenue
Base app is free (Quran + Hadith + translation). Premium for advanced features: AI-powered Hifz tracking, teacher dashboard, progress export, family sync, more reciters. €2.99/month or €24.99/year. Hardware buyers get 1 year free.
3. Institutional / B2B
~15% Revenue
Madrasa licenses: 1 teacher pen + 20 student glasses (~€500/package). Mosque stations: NUR kits as permanently installed learning stations. NGO bulk: Impact kits for Islamic Relief, UNHCR refugee camps (sponsored through Sadaqah fund and donors).
Projection: Year 1 (conservative)
5.000
Kits sold
€850K
Brutto-Revenue
€170K
→ Sadaqah Fund
Average kit price: €170 (mix of Essentials/Independence). DACH + UK only.
Why This Can't Be Copied Easily
Four Barriers. No Quick Win for Competitors.
1. Arabic OCR Training Data
30+ Quran typefaces trained. Uthmani, Indo-Pak, Warsh, Madinah — every publisher has their own font. Training this model takes months. We start now, competitors must start from zero.
2. Hardware + Software Oekosystem
Pen + glasses + pocket + app + solar — 5 devices working together. App developers can't build hardware. Hardware companies can't build a Quran app with 290+ screens. The combination is the moat.
3. Community Trust (20% Sadaqah)
No competitor will give 20% of every sale to Sadaqah. This promise builds trust in the Muslim community. Word-of-mouth in mosques is priceless.
4. First-Mover in physischem Quran-Tech
Whoever has 10,000 kits in mosques worldwide first defines the category. Network effects: teachers recommend NUR, families share kits, institutions standardize on it.
Target Markets by Region
Where We Start. Where We Scale.
| Region | Muslims | Package Focus | Channel | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DACH | 5.5M | Essentials + Independence | Moscheen, Amazon.de, Shopify | Phase 1 |
| UK | 4M | Essentials + Independence | Amazon UK, Islamic bookstores | Phase 1 |
| Turkey | 84M | Essentials (affordable) | Local partners, Hepsiburada | Phase 2 |
| Indonesien | 242M | Essentials + Impact | Tokopedia, Lazada, NGOs | Phase 2 |
| South Asia | 600M+ | Essentials + Off-Grid | Flipkart, Daraz, Madaris | Phase 3 |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 250M+ | Impact (Sadaqah) | NGOs, Islamic Relief | Phase 3 |
| MENA | 300M+ | Premium + Hajj | Noon.com, local retailers | Phase 3 |
| USA/Kanada | 4M | Independence + Off-Grid | Amazon.com, ISNA, MSA | Phase 2 |
Design Principles
Six Rules. No Exceptions.
1
The Quran is at the center, not the technology. The tech is invisible. The person interacts with their book, not with a gadget.
2
Fewer clicks = better. Maximum 3 interactions for any function. A child must understand it in 2 minutes.
3
Respect for the sacred text. No gamification with Quran verses. No ads. No distractions.
4
Offline first. Every core function works without internet. Internet is a bonus, not a requirement.
5
Robust over elegant. The Impact Kit survives drops. The Solar Kit works at 45°C. Dust resistant.
6
Privacy by Design. No cloud requirement. No tracking. No accounts needed.
Already Built
The Software Side Is Functional
NUR App — 290+ Screens
Stack: React Native + Expo
Language: TypeScript
Database: SQLite (offline)
Auth: Supabase
Quran: 6,236 Ayahs loaded
Languages: 40+ translations
Reciters: 20+
Errors: 0 TypeScript errors
The app is the software core of the ecosystem. All modes (recitation, translation, word-by-word, Hifz) are implemented. What's missing: hardware integration (BLE pairing with pen/glasses).
Next Steps
From Document to Prototype
1
Conversation
Clarify technical questions
2
Order PoC
ESP32 + Camera (~€30)
3
Build Prototype
12 weeks · €3-5K
NUR
Product Design Specification · Munich · 2026