56 research outputs found
Optics-less smart sensors and a possible mechanism of cutaneous vision in nature
Optics-less cutaneous (skin) vision is not rare among living organisms,
though its mechanisms and capabilities have not been thoroughly investigated.
This paper demonstrates, using methods from statistical parameter estimation
theory and numerical simulations, that an array of bare sensors with a natural
cosine-law angular sensitivity arranged on a flat or curved surface has the
ability to perform imaging tasks without any optics at all. The working
principle of this type of optics-less sensor and the model developed here for
determining sensor performance may be used to shed light upon possible
mechanisms and capabilities of cutaneous vision in nature
Optimizing the Use of an Artificial Tongue-Placed Tactile Biofeedback for Improving Ankle Joint Position Sense in Humans
The performance of an artificial tongue-placed tactile biofeedback device for
improving ankle joint position sense was assessed in 12 young healthy adults
using an active matching task. The underlying principle of this system consists
of supplying individuals with supplementary information about the position of
the matching ankle relative to the reference ankle position through a
tongue-placed tactile output device generating electrotactile stimulation on a
36-point (6 X 6) matrix held against the surface of the tongue dorsum.
Precisely, (1) no electrodes were activated when both ankles were in a similar
angular position within a predetermined "angular dead zone" (ADZ); (2) 12
electrodes (2 X 6) of the anterior and posterior zones of the matrix were
activated (corresponding to the stimulation of the front and rear portion of
the tongue) when the matching ankle was in a too plantarflexed and dorsiflexed
position relative to the reference ankle, respectively. Two ADZ values of 0.5
degrees and 1.5 degrees were evaluated. Results showed (1) more accurate and
more consistent matching performances with than without biofeedback and (2)
more accurate and more consistent ankle joint matching performances when using
the biofeedback device with the smaller ADZ valu
Extended Mind and Religious Cognition
The extended mind thesis claims that mental states need not be confined to the brain or even the biological borders of the subject. Philosophers and cognitive scientists have in recent years debated the plausibility of this thesis, growing an immense body of literature. Yet despite its many supporters, there have been relatively few attempts to apply the thesis to religious studies, particularly studies of religious cognition. In this essay, I indicate how various dimensions of religious cognition might be thought of as extended. In particular, I focus on the mutually-supporting relationship between religious cognition and material culture: the many things we use to organize and enact our religious practices and beliefs, from relics and rituals to songs and holy spaces. As weâll see, taking the extended mind thesis seriously suggests that an investigation of religious material culture is, simultaneously, an investigation of religious cognition
Tactile Language for a Head-Mounted Sensory Augmentation Device
Sensory augmentation is one of the most exciting domains for research in human-machine biohybridicity. The current paper presents the design of a 2nd generation vibrotactile helmet as a sensory augmentation prototype that is being developed to help users to navigate in low visibility environments. The paper outlines a study in which the user navigates along a virtual wall whilst the position and orientation of the userâs head is tracked by a motion capture system. Vibrotactile feedback is presented according to the userâs distance from the virtual wall and their head orientation. The research builds on our previous work by developing a simplified âtactile languageâ for communicating navigation commands. A key goal is to identify language tokens suitable to a head-mounted tactile interface that are maximally informative, minimize information overload, intuitive, and that have the potential to become âexperientially transparent
Tongue Liminary Threshold Identification to Electrotactile Stimulation
Many applications use electrostimulation of the human skin to provide tactile
sensation. The effect of electrotactile stimulations were studied on a 6x6
matrix of tactile electrodes placed on the anterior part of the tongue. The
liminary threshold with continuous or discontinuous waveform and patterns with
2 or 4 electrodes was investigated. The result suggest that for energy saving
and to improve the yield, it would probably be better to use discontinuous
stimulation with two electrode patterns
Portable Tongue-Supported Human Computer Interaction System Design and Implementation
Tongue supported human-computer interaction (TSHCI) systems can help critically ill patients interact with both computers and people. These systems can be particularly useful for patients suffering injuries above C7 on their spinal vertebrae. Despite recent successes in their application, several limitations restrict performance of existing TSHCI systems and discourage their use in real life situations. This paper proposes a low-cost, less-intrusive, portable and easy to use design for implementing a TSHCI system. Two applications of the proposed system are reported. Design considerations and performance of the proposed system are also presented
Sensory Substitution and Non-Sensory Feelings
One of the central limitations of sensory substitution devices (SSDs) is their inability to reproduce the non-sensory feelings that are normally associated with visual experiences, especially hedonic and aesthetic responses. This limitation is sometimes reported to cause SSD users frustration. To make matters worse, it is unclear that improvements in acuity, bandwidth, or training will resolve the issue. Yet, if SSDs are to actually reproduce visual experience in its fullness, it seems that the reproduction of non-sensory feelings will be of some importance. We offer a novel solution. Researchers can produce hedonic and aesthetic responses by eliciting these feelings artificially, pairing distal objects that should be pleasurable to pleasurable stimulus outputs from the SSD. We outline two strategies for accomplishing this: first, by means of a prefixed, hardwired, association of pleasant distal objects to pleasant stimulus outputs from the SSD; second, by means of a flexible, feedback-based association which creates associations based on a subject-directed matching of distal objects to patterns of stimuli from the SSD which the subject takes to have the corresponding hedonic properties. We evaluate some problems with both strategies, and we argue that the feedback-based strategy is more promising. Researchers can use this strategy to help the blind, allowing them to take pleasure in the objects they perceive using SSDs
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