SBIR Phase I: A Dynamic Tactile Display for Visually Impaired Computer Users

SBIR 第一阶段：为视障计算机用户提供动态触觉显示器

• 批准号: 0339652
• 负责人: Philip Schaefer
• 金额: $ 9.93万
• 依托单位: Vortant Technologies
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-01-01 至 2004-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0339652&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Dynamic; Tactile; Display

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposes to develop an innovative technology to revolutionize computer access for blind and visually impaired individuals. The device provides a touchable display with which the user can feel the windows, panels, buttons, menu items, etc., with much the same rapidity and random access available to the sighted Windows user. The new approach uses an effective but very low cost technique for interacting with the touch receptors of the fingers, avoiding the high cost and complexity associated with mechanical actuator arrays previously used to depict similar tactile images. Thus, it promises to provide the benefits of global, random access computer interface technology at dramatically reduced cost. In Phase I, a prototype Dynamic Tactile Display device will be constructed and interfaced with Windows-based accessibility software on the PC. Several alternatives for tactile display characteristics will be explored, in collaboration with the Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ACBVI). Volunteer blind participants at ACBVI will be trained on the use of the device. Objective performance criteria on their use of the device will be measured, and quantitative and qualitative user feedback will be gathered to determine overall user feasibility.The primary societal benefit of the proposed activity is to provide more universal access to computer and Internet technology to the visually impaired community, often underrepresented in professional and social groups using computers. In addition to the use of this low-cost tactile interface as an assistive device, it may have many applications in control, virtual reality, and communications. The technology may enable inroads for haptic interfaces for a much wider range of applications than are currently addressed. As advances in human/computer interactions, haptic interface methodology, and user interface design occur, major opportunities for additional spin-off products and research can be expected.

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目提出了开发一种创新技术，以彻底改变盲人和视障人士的计算机访问。 该设备提供了可触摸显示器，用户可以通过该可触摸显示器感觉到窗口、面板、按钮、菜单项等，具有与视力正常的Windows用户相同的速度和随机访问。 新方法使用有效但成本非常低的技术与手指的触摸感受器进行交互，避免了与先前用于描绘类似触觉图像的机械致动器阵列相关的高成本和复杂性。 因此，它有望以显著降低的成本提供全局随机存取计算机接口技术的好处。 在第一阶段，将建造一个原型动态触觉显示装置，并将其与个人电脑上基于Windows的无障碍软件连接。 将与亚利桑那州盲人和视障者中心（ACBVI）合作，探索触觉显示特性的几种替代方案。 ACBVI的盲态志愿者将接受器械使用培训。 我们会衡量视障人士使用该器材的客观表现准则，并收集使用者的定量和定性意见，以决定整体使用的可行性。建议活动的主要社会效益，是为视障人士提供更普及的机会，让他们使用电脑和互联网科技。 除了将这种低成本的触觉界面用作辅助设备外，它还可以在控制、虚拟现实和通信方面有许多应用。 该技术可以使触觉接口的应用范围比目前所解决的更广。 随着人类/计算机交互、触觉界面方法和用户界面设计的进步，可以预期会有更多的附带产品和研究的重大机会。