SBIR Phase I: Assisted Handwriting Training System: An Innovative Haptic Force Feedback Platform for Visual Motor Integration

SBIR 第一阶段：辅助手写训练系统：用于视觉运动集成的创新触觉力反馈平台

• 批准号: 1143084
• 负责人: Young-Seok Kim
• 金额: $ 14.99万
• 依托单位: TACTUS TECHNOLOGIES
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-01-01 至 2012-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1143084&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Assisted; Handwriting; Training

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will allow children to improve their visual motor skills and handwriting through the use of a new, innovative haptic-based handwriting training technology. The proposal will address the following intellectual challenges: First, a low cost haptic workstation system which costs below $1,500 will be developed making haptics a practical system, viable and affordable to schools by plugging into their existing computers; Second, a set of software for fully computer-based visual motor skills lessons will be developed based on standard worksheets and books currently used by schools for improving handwriting; Third, algorithms of an assistive technology will be developed to help children perform repeated motor skill tasks to improve hand-eye coordination using the proposed workstation. A new paradigm called ?shared control,? will recognize the level of participation by the child and automatically adjust the force feedback while the child participates in visual motor activities. This mode of assistance is not currently possible with any therapy. Finally, this system can be extended through additional study as a standard handwriting trainer for children with normal development and handwriting skills, and perhaps even for rehabilitation of adults who suffer from neuromuscular disorders and stroke.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is an improved method for delivering a standardized course of fine-motor hand training which leverages technology already in mass-production not only for children with Visual Motor Integration (VMI) but for a wide range of hand related trainings. The Assisted Handwriting Training system provides an interesting product opportunity with potential markets in excess of $26 billion based on published estimates. The technology is relatively mature and could almost certainly be brought to market within 3 years. Even though the primary goal of this proposal is to assist children with poor handwriting, once its efficacy is demonstrated, this system has the potential of being used by all children, even those with normal handwriting, and may become part of the writing curriculum in elementary schools all over the country. In the area of education, in addition to writing, this system can be used to teach K-12 students skills ranging from learning to paint and sculpt, to controlling mechanical devices. Future work will also lead to a system which assists physiotherapy sessions for adults with stroke or various neurological conditions.

这个小型企业创新研究 (SBIR) 第一阶段项目将允许儿童通过使用新型、创新的基于触觉的手写训练技术来提高他们的视觉运动技能和手写能力。该提案将解决以下智力挑战：首先，将开发成本低于 1,500 美元的低成本触觉工作站系统，通过插入现有计算机，使触觉成为实用的系统，对学校来说是可行且负担得起的；其次，将根据学校目前使用的标准工作表和书籍开发一套完全基于计算机的视觉运动技能课程软件； 第三，将开发辅助技术的算法，以帮助儿童使用所提出的工作站执行重复的运动技能任务，以提高手眼协调能力。一种称为“共享控制”的新范例会识别孩子的参与程度，并在孩子参与视觉运动活动时自动调整力反馈。目前任何疗法都无法实现这种帮助模式。最后，该系统可以通过额外的研究进行扩展，作为具有正常发育和书写技能的儿童的标准书写训练器，甚至可能用于患有神经肌肉疾病和中风的成年人的康复。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是提供精细运动手部训练标准化课程的改进方法，该方法利用已经批量生产的技术，不仅适用于视觉运动整合（VMI）儿童，而且适用于广泛的手部 相关培训。 辅助手写训练系统提供了一个有趣的产品机会，根据已发布的估计，其潜在市场超过 260 亿美元。该技术相对成熟，几乎可以肯定在3年内推向市场。 尽管该提案的主要目标是帮助书写不良的儿童，但一旦其功效得到证实，该系统就有可能被所有儿童，甚至是书写正常的儿童使用，并可能成为全国小学写作课程的一部分。 在教育领域，除了写作之外，该系统还可用于教授 K-12 学生的技能，从学习绘画和雕刻到控制机械设备。未来的工作还将开发一个系统，帮助患有中风或各种神经系统疾病的成年人进行物理治疗。