SBIR Phase I: SmartBoard: A Teatherless Electronic Letter Board for People with Severe Communication/Motor Disabilities

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段的研究项目开发了一种新的增强和替代通信（AAC）设备的原型，用于严重的沟通障碍的人。现有的电子信件板要求用户以不自然和繁琐的方式指向，显著降低了他们的有效通信能力。该项目利用特殊的触觉传感器垫，输出表面上手部压力分布的图像。用户将能够指向单个字母，而无需按下按钮，从而使用户无法为现有设备产生足够的力，并减少所有用户的疲劳。该解决方案将增加易用性，并通过更容易的目标选择大大提高通信速率。这项拟议的研究主要针对250万无法依靠语音或手写来满足其通信需求并需要AAC设备进行通信的美国人。目前的AAC设备是昂贵的，许多人需要一个以上的设备用于不同的情况。这项创新将使已经使用电子通信设备的人能够提高他们的通信速率，同时减少疲劳和重复性压力损伤的风险。对于那些目前由于运动障碍而无法使用电子设备的人来说，这项研究将通过提供电子AAC设备的所有好处而没有繁重或尴尬的交互负担来开辟新的可能性。这一技术的最终用户将受益于生活质量的提高，因为更好地获得通信和改善教育、就业和社会生活的机会带来了更大的独立性。此外，该研究将通过从计算机视觉领域到触觉图像解释领域的知识转移，广泛推进触觉压力图像中对象识别和跟踪的最新技术。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I research project develops a prototype of a novel Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device for people with severe communication disabilities. Existing electronic letter boards require the user to point in an unnatural and cumbersome way, significantly reducing their effective communication abilities. The project utilizes special tactile sensor mats that output images of the hand pressure distribution on the surface. Users will be able to point at individual letters without having to press buttons, thereby both enabling users unable to produce sufficient force for existing devices and reducing fatigue of all users. The solution will increase ease-of-use and greatly enhance the communication rate through easier target selection. This proposed research targets primarily the more the 2.5 million Americans who are unable to rely on speech or handwriting for their communication needs and require AAC devices for their communication. Current AAC devices are expensive, and many people require more than one device for different situations. This innovation will allow people who already use electronic communication devices to increase their communication rate while simultaneously reducing fatigue and the risk for Repetitive Stress Injuries. For others who are currently unable to use electronic devices due to the extent of their motor disability, this research it will open new possibilities by offering all benefits of electronic AAC devices without the burden of strenuous or awkward interaction. End users of this technology will benefit from an improved quality of life by way of greater independence arising from better access to communication and improved opportunities for education, employment, and social living. Additionally, the research will broadly advance the state-of-the-art in object recognition and tracking from tactile pressure images through a knowledge transfer from the computer vision domain to the domain of tactile imagery interpretation.