SBIR Phase I: Assistive Reading Device for Persons with Disabilities

SBIR 第一阶段：残疾人辅助阅读设备

• 批准号: 0215189
• 负责人: Irene Schipper
• 金额: $ 10万
• 依托单位: PAGEFLIP
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-07-01 至 2002-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0215189&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Assistive; Reading; Device

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Project proposes to further improve an assistive device for reading that is currently under development at the company. The device, an electromechanicalpage turner, allows people with upper extremity impairment to conveniently and easily turn pages of a book in either direction. With the touch of a button, the page turner can automatically grab the next page, turn it, and keep the book opened flat during the entire process. If necessary, an alternate activation method can be employed, such as a sip-and-puff switch, chin switch, or foot pedal. There are three key phases of the page turning process : page engagement, page restraint, and page transport. In its current form, the page turner prototype offers superior solutions to each of these phases and addresses the limitations of commercially available systems. Several key research problems must now be addressed in order to improve the reliability of the apparatus. The problems center on the unit's turnstile element which serves two principle functions: page restraint and page transport. The turnstile is necessary to hold the book open flat, as well as to move a page from one side of the book to the other. The turnstile-on-paper and paper-on-paper frictional properties are important considerations for successful operation of the page turner. The goal of the Phase I Project is to investigate optimal contact pressure between the turnstile and the book page, as well as to exxamine the bending stiffness, coefficient of friction, and the mechanical characteristics of paper. To achieve the stated goals, experiments are proposed to test a variety of paper materials and book sizes, and to develop computer models that will help in parametric studies of the design. The experimental and computational results will be validated with the standard test methods recommended by the U.S. Trade Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) and Japan Industrial Standards (JIS). The results of this investigation will allow the company to optimize the design and thereby improve the performance and reliability of the page turner. The commercial applications of this project are in the area of assistive home-care technology for the elderly and disabled. A page turner would be particularly beneficial to people with limited bilateral upper extremity function caused by neurological impairment, musculoskeletal problems, and generalized weakness. The proposed device would serve to enhance their quality of life by improving their independence in this activity of daily living.

本小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目建议进一步改进公司目前正在开发的阅读辅助设备。该装置是一种机电翻页器，可以让上肢有障碍的人方便轻松地从任何一个方向翻页。只需按一下按钮，翻页器就可以自动抓取下一页，翻转它，并在整个过程中保持书打开。如有必要，可采用替代激活方法，例如吸吸开关、下巴开关或脚踏板。翻页过程有三个关键阶段：页面接合、页面约束和页面传输。在其目前的形式，页面特纳原型提供了上级解决方案，这些阶段的每一个和地址的限制，商业可用的系统。现在必须解决几个关键的研究问题，以提高设备的可靠性。问题集中在该单元的旋转门元件上，该旋转门元件具有两个主要功能：页面限制和页面传输。旋转栅门是必要的，以保持打开的书平，以及移动一页从一边的书到另一边。纸上转门和纸对纸的摩擦特性是成功操作翻页机的重要考虑因素。第一阶段的研究目的是探讨旋转门与书页之间的最佳接触压力，以及测试纸张的弯曲刚度、摩擦系数和机械特性。为了实现既定的目标，实验提出了测试各种纸张材料和书籍的大小，并开发计算机模型，这将有助于在设计的参数研究。实验和计算结果将与美国纸浆和造纸工业贸易协会（TAPPI）和日本工业标准（JIS）推荐的标准测试方法进行验证。这项调查的结果将使该公司能够优化设计，从而提高翻页机的性能和可靠性。该项目的商业应用是在老年人和残疾人的辅助家庭护理技术领域。翻页器对因神经损伤、肌肉骨骼问题和全身无力而导致双侧上肢功能受限的人特别有益。拟议的装置将有助于提高他们的生活质量，提高他们在日常生活活动中的独立性。