ELECTROTACTILE DISPLAY OF COMPUTER GRAPHICS FOR BLIND

盲人计算机图形电触显示器

• 批准号: 3267296
• 负责人: PAUL BACH-Y-RITA
• 金额: $ 18.27万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 1992
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1992-12-01 至 1996-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3267296
• 关键词: blind aid; computer graphics /printing; electrotactile communication; human subject; reading disorder; technology /technique development; visual perception; blind aid; computer graphics /printing; electrotactile communication; human subject; reading disorder; technology /technique development; visual perception

This research will develop an electrotactile haptic display to present computer graphics to blind persons. The increasing use of computer graphics and pictorial displays (such as the Macintosh and Microsoft Windows environments) presents a major problem for blind computer users. While text output is available through Braille, Optacon (optical-to- tactile converter), or speech synthesis, none of these techniques are suitable for presentation of complex pictorial or spatial information (organizational charts, computer program or process flowcharts, electrical, architectural, or mechanical drawings, three-dimensional graphs, pictures, visual artwork). The proposed investigations will create a flat, smooth tablet with embedded electrodes and external driver circuitry that can electrically display pictorial information from a computer directly to the skin. A blind user will then be able to interpret the properly-formatted percepts that s/he acquires by scanning the display with the fingertips. Exploratory research during Year 1 will extend present electrotactile knowledge to electrical stimulation of touch on the fingertip. Studies will determine the stimulation mode (direct afferent nerve stimulation or indirect electrostatic/mechanical stimulation), electrode geometry, and waveform characteristics that produce strong, repeatable, and comfortable single-point stimulation. Year 2 efforts will develop a small two-dimensional fingertip-scanned (haptic) display. Basic perceptual studies with this two-dimensional display will likely suggest further improvements in electrode geometry or driving waveform. During Year 3, this display (with associated electronics and control software) will grow at least ten times larger so that complex geometric and pictorial information from a computer screen can be displayed. Extensive perceptual studies during Year 4 will test the hypothesis that complex pictorial information is more readily perceived by haptic exploration with the fingertips than through a fixed-location 384-point electrotactile display on the abdomen (currently-available technology). Research during Year 5 will explore the feasibility of other rehabilitation applications, including retraining the visual perception of individuals with stroke-induced visual agnosia (intact eye and optic nerve), and dyslexia. We hypothesize that simultaneous display of "visual" information tactually and visually (on a computer screen), in conjunction with the user's properly-functioning tactile perceptual system, can cause functional reorganization of the damaged visual processing areas of the brain, effecting improved visual perception.

这项研究将开发出一种电动性触觉显示 对盲人的计算机图形。 计算机的使用越来越多 图形和图形显示（例如Macintosh和Microsoft Windows环境）为盲目的计算机用户提供了一个主要问题。 虽然可以通过盲文获得文本输出（光学到 - 触觉转换器）或语音综合，这些技术都不是 适用于复杂的图形或空间信息的介绍 （组织图表，计算机程序或过程流程图， 电气，建筑或机械图，三维 图，图片，视觉艺术品）。 拟议的调查将创建一个平稳，平滑的平板电脑 嵌入电极和外部驾驶员电路 直接显示从计算机到皮肤的图形信息。 一个 然后，盲人用户将能够解释正确形成的知觉 他/她通过用指尖扫描显示器来获得。 1年级的探索性研究将延长当前电动作用 知识以刺激指尖的触摸。 研究 将确定刺激模式（直接传入神经刺激 或间接静电/机械刺激），电极几何形状， 和波形特性产生强大，可重复和 舒适的单点刺激。 2年级的努力将发展 小的二维指尖扫描（触觉）显示。 基本的 通过这种二维显示的感知研究可能会暗示 电极几何形状或驱动波形的进一步改进。 期间 3年级，此显示（带有关联的电子和控制软件） 将至少增长十倍，以便复杂的几何和 可以显示来自计算机屏幕的绘画信息。 广泛的 在第4年期间的知觉研究将检验以下假设 图形信息更容易被触觉探索所感知 用指尖比通过固定位置的384分 腹部（当前可用技术）上的电子acti骨显示。 第五年的研究将探索其他 康复应用，包括重新审查视觉感知 具有中风引起的视觉不适的个体（完整的眼睛和光学 神经）和阅读障碍。 我们假设同时显示 “视觉”信息在计算机屏幕上（在计算机屏幕上），在 与用户正确函数触觉感知的结合 系统，可能导致受损视觉的功能重组 大脑的处理区域，从而改善视觉感知。