Tactile graphical display for the visually impaired information technology applications

This paper presents an interactive tactile graphical display, for the visually impaired information technology access applications. The display consists of a matrix of dots. Each dot is an electro rheological micro actuator. The actuator design and development process is presented in this paper. Prototype size 124x4 dots was manufactured. An advanced software tools and embedded system based on voltage matrix manipulation has been developed, to provide the display near real time control. The experimental tests carried out into the developed prototype showed that each actuator of the matrix was able to provide a vertical movement of 0.7 mm and vertical holding force of 100 to 200 mN. The stroke and dynamic response tests showed the practicability of the developed tactile display, for the visually impaired information technology applications

A Review of Smart Materials in Tactile Actuators for Information Delivery

As the largest organ in the human body, the skin provides the important sensory channel for humans to receive external stimulations based on touch. By the information perceived through touch, people can feel and guess the properties of objects, like weight, temperature, textures, and motion, etc. In fact, those properties are nerve stimuli to our brain received by different kinds of receptors in the skin. Mechanical, electrical, and thermal stimuli can stimulate these receptors and cause different information to be conveyed through the nerves. Technologies for actuators to provide mechanical, electrical or thermal stimuli have been developed. These include static or vibrational actuation, electrostatic stimulation, focused ultrasound, and more. Smart materials, such as piezoelectric materials, carbon nanotubes, and shape memory alloys, play important roles in providing actuation for tactile sensation. This paper aims to review the background biological knowledge of human tactile sensing, to give an understanding of how we sense and interact with the world through the sense of touch, as well as the conventional and state-of-the-art technologies of tactile actuators for tactile feedback delivery

Microsystems technology: objectives

This contribution focuses on the objectives of microsystems technology (MST). The reason for this is two fold. First of all, it should explain what MST actually is. This question is often posed and a simple answer is lacking, as a consequence of the diversity of subjects that are perceived as MST. The second reason is that a map of the somewhat chaotic field of MST is needed to identify sub-territories, for which standardization in terms of system modules an interconnections is feasible. To define the objectives a pragmatic approach has been followed. From the literature a selection of topics has been chosen and collected that are perceived as belonging to the field of MST by a large community of workers in the field (more than 250 references). In this way an overview has been created with `applications¿ and `generic issues¿ as the main characteristics

A haptic-enabled multimodal interface for the planning of hip arthroplasty

Multimodal environments help fuse a diverse range of sensory modalities, which is particularly important when integrating the complex data involved in surgical preoperative planning. The authors apply a multimodal interface for preoperative planning of hip arthroplasty with a user interface that integrates immersive stereo displays and haptic modalities. This article overviews this multimodal application framework and discusses the benefits of incorporating the haptic modality in this area

Innovation in micro actuators and Big Data technology transform visually impaired daily life activities and Improve their access to information technology resources

It is indeed very alarming when we learn that every five seconds one person in the world goes blind. 285 million people are visually impaired worldwide. 39 million are blind and 246 have low vision, 90% of the world's visually impaired live in developing countries. This blind and visually impaired community Tactile and Braille is the most efficient possible way to read, write and interact with latest information technology resources. There are many outstanding efforts have been done on previous decades to improve this community quality of life. This paper presents the current state of the art of the current micro actuators technology and its latest development for visually impaired information technology access application. It is also presents innovative tactile graphical display using electro rheological fluid micro actuators for the visually impaired people information technology (IT) access application. The display consists of 124x4 dots. Each dot is a micro electro rheological fluid actuator. The micro-actuator is designed based on linear vertical movement principles. An advanced software tools and embedded system based on voltage matrix manipulation are developed, to provide the graphical display near real time control. The actuator design and development process and software control tools is presented in this paper. Prototype size 124x4 dots, on a matrix form, of 2.54mm pitch, was manufactured. The experimental tests carried out into the prototype showed a close agreement with the standard criteria of Tactile Braille applications. The stroke and dynamic time response test showed the practicability of the developed graphical tactile display, for visually impaired IT access applications

Integrated Application of Active Controls (IAAC) technology to an advanced subsonic transpot project-demonstration act system definition

The 1985 ACT airplane is the Final Active Controls Technology (ACT) Airplane with the addition of three-axis fly by wire. Thus it retains all the efficiency features of the full ACT system plus the weight and cost savings accruing from deletion of the mechanical control system. The control system implements the full IAAC spectrum of active controls except flutter-mode control, judged essentially nonbeneficial, and incorporates new control surfaces called flaperons to make the most of wing-load alleviation. This redundant electronic system is conservatively designed to preserve the extreme reliability required of crucial short-period pitch augmentation, which provides more than half of the fuel savings

Advanced sensors technology survey

This project assesses the state-of-the-art in advanced or 'smart' sensors technology for NASA Life Sciences research applications with an emphasis on those sensors with potential applications on the space station freedom (SSF). The objectives are: (1) to conduct literature reviews on relevant advanced sensor technology; (2) to interview various scientists and engineers in industry, academia, and government who are knowledgeable on this topic; (3) to provide viewpoints and opinions regarding the potential applications of this technology on the SSF; and (4) to provide summary charts of relevant technologies and centers where these technologies are being developed

Insect diversity and composition during the wet and dry seasons in three forest types of Johor, Malaysia

The insect diversity and abundance in three forest types namely: Endau Rompin (pristine lowland forest) Gunung Ledang (pristine highland forest) and Bukit Soga (degraded lowland forest) in Johor, Malaysia were studied. The study focused on 10 common insect orders. The objectives are (1) to investigate the composition and abundance of insect morphospecies in three forest types; (2) to compare the composition and abundance of insect morphospecies in the wet and dry seasons in three forest types; and (3) to determine the dominant insect of the study sites. There were four sampling methods employed as baited pitfall traps, aerial net, manual collection and sweep net. The sampling methods were employed three days in each location. The different insects sampled, were higher during the wet season as compared to the dry season (diversity and abundance). Although Bukit Soga lowland a degraded forest had the highest diversity of 52; and abundance of 112,081 individuals, it had the lowest Shannon weiner index of species diversity and lowest evenness of (H’1.09 and evenness of 0.28). Gunung Ledang, had lowest species diversity of 32 and abundance of 1,695 individuals but had the highest H’of 2.34 and highest evenness of 0.68. Endau Rompin had 46 species diversity and abundance of 70,821individuals and H’of 1.17and evenness of 0.30. In highland forest the most diverse dominant insects were the butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera). Meanwhile ant, (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) was more diverse in lowland forest than the highland forest. In all the three locations, ant was most abundant. Since Jaccard similarity index was low between Gunung Ledang and Bukit Soga (0.22); and between Gunung Ledang and Endau Rompin (0.27) it is concluded that altitude had a greater effect on insect diversity. This is supported by a two ways ANOVA analyses that showed insect diversity and abundance between the two lowland forests (Endau Rompin and Bukit Soga) and highland forest (Gunung Ledang) are significantly different. Difference between the lowland forests was not significant. Generally, effect of wet and dry seasons has no clear impact on diversity but abundance was higher during wet season especially for ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)