digital braille design1
TRANSCRIPT
Electrovibrations, an infant technology for touch screens, are what my design is
inspired and utilized by. The user feels a texture under his or her �nger, which is caused
by electrical charges sent to the pinpointed location on the screen that the �nger is
touching. This could be used to create the texture of a page of Braille, and my design
implements this possibility to make touch screens for Braille communication. This would
open up a massive variety of previously unavailable technologies, media, and
communication for the blind. Some possibilities include email and text message as well
as form completion and other disability services. The device could also be used like a
Kindle or similar interactive reading device, making texts, books, and other media more
available to Braille readers.
The technology could be used for communication for anyone who reads Braille.
Those who are blind can not use current touch screen devices, but with the
electrovibrations Braille could be digitally simulated underneath the moving �nger
touching the screen. With a particular algorithm, text could be digitally translated into
Braille to be felt by the �nger.
The user interacts with this system (mapped below) by placing his or her �nger on
the screen and then moves it around to read what is on it. To depict a website format or
button options, the texture could make the user feel a button around the text, indicated
that that part of the screen acts like a button to be pressed. In order to activate the
button the user must double-tap or use some other indication. The text would be
mapped to the screen so the user can use both hands and multiple �ngers, feeling the
particular texture of whichever spot that the �ngers are moving across. The dips and
bumps can be felt even by a stationary �nger. Since the user will constantly be touching
the screen, the interactions required to do special actions such as turning a page or
scrolling will be particularly designed based on the needs of Braille readers.
Mae TidmanNovember 24, 2010LCC 3710 Prin. Interaction DesignFinal Project – design document
Algorithm translates textinto a texture that is mappedout for the particular screen.
Texture consists of series of bumps anddips, just like a page
of Braille.
Words gathered fromthe Internet - a
particular websiteor from a book or
other media.
The �nger locationis pinpointed and a
voltage is sent to thepoint creating a sensationfor the moving �nger to
feel bumps and dips.