SBIR Phase I: A Novel, Hands-free Braille Display

这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将评估现有BrainPort视觉设备技术适应阅读盲文任务的可行性，从而创造一种全新的免提盲文显示器。 BrainPort目前将从相机获取的图像转换为舌头上的低分辨率触觉印象。迄今为止，它已成功地用于告知盲人用户其环境的详细信息。 拟议中的研究消除了摄像头输入，而是使用新开发的配套系统软件将盲文点图案的合成图像直接发送到舌头。 没有其他开发人员将BrainPort技术应用于盲文阅读。 仅用手指阅读盲文将某些人排除在阅读盲文之外，例如具有身体残疾/糖尿病神经病变的盲人、不能在阅读时做出手势的盲人、以及不能在阅读音乐时演奏音乐的盲人音乐家。此外，用手指阅读的传统盲文显示器的用户必须反复地将他们的手从PC键盘来回移动到显示器，降低生产率。 BrainPort盲文解决方案开发了配套系统软件，允许用户通过直接将字符的点图案传输给受试者来阅读盲文。的舌头使用专利BrainPort硬件。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力包括：扩大盲人和半盲学生的教育机会;通过增加就业/保留工作来改善工作专业人员的工作业绩，造福社会;扩大自1992年以来实行社会企业家精神的既定生活方式企业的产品线。 研究对象为低发病率的盲人、半盲人和肢体残疾人。 技术前所未有：没有直接竞争。 间接竞争：传统盲文显示器、屏幕阅读软件。 早期采用者将是工作的专业人员、康复机构的求职客户、以及有积极性的盲人和以前因身体残疾而无法阅读的双盲学生的教育工作者。 个人通常使用传统的盲文显示器和来自屏幕阅读器的合成语音来阅读，并根据要阅读的材料使用一种或另一种方法。 BrainPort盲文显示器不会相互排斥，但会为这些用户增加选择。 Dancing Dots将通过已建立的客户数据库、网站、搜索引擎优化和国际贸易展览，向全球数万名现有和潜在的盲文阅读者销售免提盲文显示器，防止他们用手阅读。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will assess feasibility of adapting established BrainPort Vision Device technology to the task of reading braille thereby creating an entirely new kind of hands-free Braille display. BrainPort currently converts images acquired from a camera to low resolution, tactile impressions on the tongue. To date, it has been successfully used to inform blind users of details of their environment. Proposed research eliminates camera input but instead sends fabricated images of braille dot patterns directly to the tongue using newly developed companion system software. No other developers have ever applied BrainPort technology to Braille reading. Having to read Braille only with the fingers excludes certain individuals from reading braille such as blind people who have physical disabilities/diabetic neuropathy, deafblind people who cannot make signs as they read, and blind musicians who cannot perform music while reading it. Also, users of conventional Braille displays who read with their fingers must repeatedly move their hands back and forth from the PC keyboard to the display, slowing productivity. The BrainPort Braille solution develops companion system software that permits users to read braille by directly transmitting dot patterns of characters to subject?s tongue using patented BrainPort hardware. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project includes: widening educational opportunities for blind and deafblind students; improving job performance for working professionals benefiting society through increased employment/job retention; Expanding product line of established, life-style business practicing social entrepreneurship since 1992. The research targets low-incidence population of blind, deafblind and physically disabled people. Technology unprecedented: no direct competition. Indirect competition: conventional braille displays, screen reading software. Early adopters will be working professionals, clients of rehabilitation agencies seeking employment, and educators of motivated blind, deafblind students previously unable to read due to physical disability. Individuals commonly use both conventional braille displays and synthetic speech from screen readers to read and use one or the other method depending on material to be read. A BrainPort Braille display will not be mutually exclusive but will increase options for such users. Dancing Dots will sell Hands-free Braille Display to world-wide market of tens of thousands of current and potential braille readers prevented from reading with their hands through established customer database, website, search engine optimization and international trade shows.