High Speed Tactile Graphics and Braille Embosser

高速触觉图形和盲文浮雕机

• 批准号: 6835355
• 负责人: CHRISTIAN H HERDEN
• 金额: $ 10万
• 依托单位: VIEWPLUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-09-01 至 2005-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6835355
• 关键词: assistive device /technology; bioengineering /biomedical engineering; biotechnology; computer graphics /printing; computer human interaction; computer program /software; computer system design /evaluation; educational resource design /development; electrotactile communication

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This project is intended to determine the feasibility of creating a new very high-speed high-resolution variable-height-dot embosser that can emboss both Braille text and variable-height tactile graphics. Major Braille production houses badly need such a technology if they are to represent modern literature having much of its content in the form of informational graphics. Present high-speed machines produce only Braille text because the cost of including tactile graphics is prohibitive. One goal of this project is to optimize performance of a solenoid/punch smaller than currently used in order to reduce the size and greatly reduce the cost of such a high speed embosser. Another goal is to determine the feasibility of measuring punch depth from solenoid electronic signals, a capability that could reduce manufacturing cost and robustness of such embossers. Finally, initial portions of user-interface software will be developed and tested. This research is expected to prove feasibility of a graphics-capable embosser operating at a speed considerably greater than any currently available Braille embosser and close to the speed of a Braille press. Its cost could be competitive with current high speed braille embossers and a small fraction of the cost of a Braille press. It could revolutionize information access by blind people. Blind people currently have such limited access to tactile graphic information that few can even read tactile graphics easily. A practical method of providing good tactile graphics is needed before this vicious circle, low graphic literacy due to insufficient access to tactile graphics, can be broken. Access to tactile graphic information could greatly improve education, employment opportunities, quality of life, and consequently the mental health of blind people.

描述（由申请人提供）：该项目旨在确定创建一种新型超高速高分辨率可变高度点压花机的可行性，该压花机可以压印盲文文本和可变高度触觉图形。如果主要的盲文制作公司要以信息图形的形式呈现大部分内容的现代文学，那么他们迫切需要这种技术。目前的高速机器仅产生盲文文本，因为包含触觉图形的成本太高。该项目的目标之一是优化比目前使用的更小的螺线管/冲头的性能，以减小尺寸并大大降低这种高速压花机的成本。另一个目标是确定从螺线管电子信号测量打孔深度的可行性，这种能力可以降低制造成本和此类压花机的稳健性。最后，将开发和测试用户界面软件的初始部分。这项研究预计将证明具有图形功能的压印机的可行性，其运行速度比任何现有的盲文压印机都要快得多，并且接近盲文印刷机的速度。其成本与当前的高速盲文压印机相比具有竞争力，并且仅为盲文印刷机成本的一小部分。它可以彻底改变盲人的信息获取方式。目前，盲人对触觉图形信息的获取非常有限，以至于很少有人能够轻松地阅读触觉图形。在打破这种恶性循环之前，需要一种提供良好触觉图形的实用方法，即由于接触触觉图形的机会不足而导致图形素养低下。获得触觉图形信息可以极大地改善盲人的教育、就业机会、生活质量，从而改善心理健康。