Vibro-tactile display for the visually impaired using miniature electrostatic transducers

2021 ◽  
Vol 150 (4) ◽  
pp. A172-A172
Author(s):  
Lillian Fullford ◽  
Robert D. White ◽  
Jonathan Bernstein
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Tactile Display ◽  
Electrostatic Transducers

An Innovative Tactile Interactive Interface Graphical Display for the Visually Impaired Information Technology Access Applications

2013 ◽  
Vol 415 ◽  
pp. 155-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Shafik
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Embedded System ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Vertical Movement ◽  
Tactile Display ◽  
Graphical Display ◽  
Real Time Control ◽  
Micro Actuator ◽  
Interactive Interface ◽  
Actuation System

This paper presents an innovative tactile interactive interface graphical display for visually impaired people, information technology (IT) access application. The display consists of matrix of dots. Each dot is an electro rheological fluid micro actuator. The micro-actuator designed based on linear vertical movement principles. The actuator design and development process is presented in this paper. An advanced software tools and embedded system based on voltage matrix manipulation are developed to provide the display near real time control. Prototype size 124x4 dots, on a matrix form, of 2.54mm pitch, was manufactured. The experimental tests carried out into the prototype showed that each actuator of the matrix was able to provide a vertical holding force of 100 to 200 mN and vertical movement of 0.7 mm. The stroke and dynamic response tests showed the practicability of the developed micro actuation system, for tactile display IT access applications.

Design Exploration of Affordable Refreshable Braille Display Technology for Low-Income Visually Impaired Users

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony S. Walker ◽  
Shraddha Sangelkar
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Tactile Display ◽  
Influential Factor ◽  
High Price ◽  
Digital Information ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Braille Display

People with visual disability need assistance in reading and writing by converting text to braille. Braille allows tactile display of the information for the visually impaired. Refreshable braille displays are commonly available in developed countries for a high price with the number of cells the display contains being the most influential factor on that price. Low-income blind individuals from developing countries cannot afford an expensive refreshable braille display, which in turn limits their access to digital information. The purpose to this paper is to explore design options for reducing the cost of refreshable braille displays. The paper begins with a summary of currently available refreshable braille displays on the market and their features. Next, the design requirements are explored for developing a low-cost device for visually impaired users in the developing countries. The paper also explains the state-of-the-art technologies for actuating the braille dots that may reduce the cost of the device. Finally, the recommendations for reducing the cost of these displays are presented.

Development of Tactile-Proprioceptive Display and Effect Evaluation of Local Area Vibration Presentation Method

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-99
Author(s):  
Tadahiro Sakai ◽  
◽  
Takuya Handa ◽  
Masatsugu Sakajiri ◽  
Toshihiro Shimizu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Local Area ◽  
Tactile Display ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Effect Evaluation ◽  
Line Segments ◽  
Visually Impaired People ◽  
Present Information ◽  
Impaired People ◽  
Presentation Method

We propose a new method of presenting two-dimensional information, such as figures and graphs, on a tactile display so that visually impaired people are able to perceive them quickly and accurately. The new presentation method is developed for a tactile-proprioceptive display, which can present information on not only conventional “concave–convex” tactile display, but also vibration presentation in arbitrary area on a tactile display and mechanical leading presentation by mechanically leading user’s fingers using haptic device. In this paper, we outline the abovementioned two presentation method and the developed tactile-prop display, and objectively evaluate the effects of the local area vibration presentation method as an integral part of the tactile-prop display in comparison with the conventional “concave–convex” presentation method. We conducted experiments to evaluate the effects of the proposed local area vibration presentation method using two typical content patterns. In Experiment 1, discreetly dispersed objects are searched, and in Experiment 2, the cross graphs of line segments are distinguished and perceived. The experiments have proved that the method is effective in reducing search and cognitive time as well as identifying the correct cognition of cross graphs, as compared to the “concave–convex” tactile presentation method.

Development of Haptic Communication Device for Disabled Persons

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoltán Szabó ◽  
Eniko T. Enikov
Keyword(s):  
Character Recognition ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Human Subject ◽  
Recognition Performance ◽  
Recognition Rate ◽  
Tactile Perception ◽  
Tactile Display ◽  
Vibrotactile Stimulation ◽  
Visually Impaired People ◽  
Impaired People

With the emergence of augmented and virtual-reality based information delivery technologies the gap between availability of communication devices for visually impaired people and sighted people is emerging. The current study describes a communication tool which provides a reading platform for visually impaired people by means of a haptic display. In this paper the development and human subject study based evaluation of an electromagnetic microactuator-array based virtual tactile display is presented. The actuator array is comprised of a 4 by 5 array of micro voice-coil actuators (tactors) providing vibrotactile stimulation on the user’s fingertip. The size and performance of the actuators is evaluated against the thresholds of human tactile perception. It is demonstrated that a 2.65 mm (diameter) × 4 mm (height) generic tactor is suitable for practical applications in dynamic tactile displays. The maximum force of the actuator was 30 mN generated at current levels of 200 mA. At a stroke of 4.5 mm, the force is reduced to 10 mN. The peak force was generated at a displacement of 1.5 mm. A total of 10 alpha-numeric symbols were displayed to the users via dynamically changing the location of the vibrating point in a predefined sequence, thus creating a tactile perception of continuous curve. Users were asked to sketch out the perceived symbols. Each subject carried out three experiments. The first experiment exposed all subjects to ten different characters. Data obtained from human subject tests suggest that users perceive most shapes accurately, however the existence of jump discontinuities in the flow of presentation of the curves lowers recognition efficiency most likely due to loss of sensation of solid reference point. Characters containing two or more discontinuous lines such as ‘X’ were more difficult to recognize in comparison to those described with a single line such as ‘P’, or ‘Z’. Analysis of the average character recognition rate from 10 volunteers concluded that any presented character was identified correctly in 7 out 10 tests. The second test included characters that were reused from the first experiment. Users had improved their character recognition performance as a consequence of repeated exposure and learning. A final set of experiments concluded that recognition of groups of characters, forming words, is the least efficient and requires further perfecting. Recommendations for improvements of the recognition rate are also included.

scholarly journals Improving spatial working memory in blind and sighted youngsters using programmable tactile displays

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 205031211882002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrizio Leo ◽  
Carla Tinti ◽  
Silvia Chiesa ◽  
Roberta Cavaglià ◽  
Susanna Schmidt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Recall Performance ◽  
Tactile Display ◽  
Weekly Schedule ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Tactile Displays ◽  
Spatial Layouts ◽  
Single Matrix

Objective: To investigate whether training with tactile matrices displayed with a programmable tactile display improves recalling performance of spatial images in blind, low-vision and sighted youngsters. To code and understand the behavioral underpinnings of learning two-dimensional tactile dispositions, in terms of spontaneous exploration strategies. Methods: Three groups of blind, low-vision and sighted youngsters between 6 and 18 years old performed four training sessions with a weekly schedule in which they were asked to memorize single or double spatial layouts, featured as two-dimensional matrices. Results: Results showed that all groups of participants significantly improved their recall performance compared to the first session baseline in the single-matrix task. No statistical difference in performance between groups emerged in this task. Instead, the learning effect in visually impaired participants is reduced in the double-matrix task, whereas it is still robust in blindfolded sighted controls. We also coded tactile exploration strategies in both tasks and their correlation with performance. Sighted youngsters, in particular, favored a proprioceptive exploration strategy. Finally, performance in the double-matrix task negatively correlated with using one hand and positively correlated with a proprioceptive strategy. Conclusion: The results of our study indicate that blind persons do not easily process two separate spatial layouts. However, rehabilitation programs promoting bi-manual and proprioceptive approaches to tactile exploration might help improve spatial abilities. Finally, programmable tactile displays are an effective way to make spatial and graphical configurations accessible to visually impaired youngsters and they can be profitably exploited in rehabilitation.

scholarly journals TactViz: A VMD Plugin for Tactile Visualization of Protein Structures

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia R. Shaw ◽  
◽  
Jodi A. Hadden-Perilla ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Protein Structures ◽  
Data Bank ◽  
Tactile Display ◽  
Display Devices ◽  
Diversity And Inclusion ◽  
Scientific Disciplines ◽  
Visualization Software ◽  
Academic Laboratory ◽  
Protein Structure Data

Scientific disciplines spanning biology, biochemistry, and biophysics involve the study of proteins and their functions. Visualization of protein structures represents a barrier to education and research in these disciplines for students who are blind or visually impaired. Here, we present a software plugin for readily producing variable-height tactile graphics of proteins using the free biomolecular visualization software Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) and protein structure data that is publicly available through the Protein Data Bank. Our method also supports interactive tactile visualization of proteins with VMD on electronic refreshable tactile display devices. Employing our method in an academic laboratory has enabled an undergraduate student who is blind to carry out research alongside her sighted peers. By making the study of protein structures accessible to students who are blind or visually impaired, we aim to promote diversity and inclusion in STEM education and research.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document