SBIR Phase I: Assistive Reading Device for Persons with Disabilities

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目建议进一步改进该公司目前正在开发的阅读辅助设备。该设备是一种机电翻页器，可以让上肢功能受损的人方便、轻松地在两个方向上翻阅书籍。只需按一下按钮，翻页器就可以自动抓起下一页，翻过去，并在整个过程中保持平开书本。如有必要，可采用其他激活方法，如吸气开关、下巴开关或脚踏板。翻页过程有三个关键阶段：页面参与、页面限制和页面传输。在目前的形式下，Page Turner原型为这些阶段的每个阶段提供了卓越的解决方案，并解决了商业可用系统的局限性。为了提高仪器的可靠性，现在必须解决几个关键的研究问题。问题集中在该单元的旋转栅门元件上，该元件具有两个主要功能：页面限制和页面传输。旋转栅门是保持书本平开以及将书页从书本的一边移到另一边所必需的。纸上旋转门和纸上纸的摩擦特性是翻页机成功运行的重要考虑因素。第一阶段项目的目标是研究旋转栅门和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。为了实现规定的目标，建议进行实验，测试各种纸张材料和书籍大小，并开发有助于设计参数研究的计算机模型。实验和计算结果将根据美国制浆造纸工业贸易协会(TAPPI)和日本工业标准(JIS)推荐的标准测试方法进行验证。此次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。该项目的商业应用领域是老年人和残疾人的辅助家庭护理技术。翻页器对因神经功能障碍、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。拟议的设备将有助于通过提高他们在这一日常生活活动中的独立性来提高他们的生活质量。

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.