A new tactile =
device will=20
allow the widespread use of graphical interfaces =
for=20
visually-impaired people. The tactile graphical =
display=20
will open up new avenues of employment, =
communication=20
and personal expression. Conceivably it could do =
for=20
graphics what Louis Braille did for text in =
1824.
Current Braille displays generally show one =
line at a=20
time using electro-magnetic or piezo-electrical =
forces=20
to raise and lower the dots that make up Braille =
letters. Larger multiline displays were =
developed but=20
never sold commercially because they cost over =
=80200,000=20
to produce.
The new display uses electro-rheological =
fluids and=20
will cost about =8015,000 when it enters =
production, a=20
comparable price to current top-of-the-range =
single line=20
readers.
"Piezo-electrical devices manufacture the =
dots in=20
pairs, whereas in our system we can manufacture =
the=20
entire display in one sweep, which keeps down =
the=20
costs," said Dr Sami Ahmed, managing director of =
Smart=20
Technology Group the scientific coordinator of =
the=20
interactive Tactile Interface (ITACTI) =
project,=20
backed by funding from the European =
Commission=92s IST=20
programme.
Smart were responsible for developing the=20
electro-rheological (ER) fluids which change =
their state=20
from liquid to semi-solid when a charge is =
applied.=20
Developing the ER fluids was the greatest =
challenge=20
faced by the project. Smart also was responsible =
for=20
design and manufacture of the new display unit. =
"We use these types of fluid in other =
applications,=20
but it took quite a lot of work to get the =
specification=20
we required for this device," says Ahmed. System =
controls and special software allow dots to =
raise and=20
lower individually, offering users an entire =
page of=20
text or graphics.
"Single line devices are fine for simple =
text, but=20
what if you want to look at a spreadsheet? For =
that you=20
need a full-screen display, which can also =
produce=20
text," says Ahmed.
The device could even make reading text =
easier for=20
users. Current single line systems replace read =
lines=20
with new lines of text, so users cannot =
conveniently=20
refer back to something they've just read.
But it is the exciting ability to include =
graphical=20
elements that really sets the ITACTI device =
apart.=20
"We're not talking about photos of Tony Blair, =
but=20
rather practical applications like icons, bar =
charts and=20
presentations. It will also be very useful for=20
mathematical formula," says Ahmed.
He believes it could also mean new job =
opportunities,=20
and suggests it could be used to allow =
visually-impaired=20
people to work in call centres when full screens =
of data=20
need to be quickly scanned to respond to =
queries.
Graphics is not the only innovation achieved =
by the=20
team. Uniquely, the device integrates both input =
and=20
output, so users can read a Web page and then =
click=20
hyperlinks if they want. It can also work like a =
mouse,=20
with the fingers moving the cursor around the =
screen=20
while the thumb can click or double-click =
particular=20
elements.
So far the response to the new device is very =
enthusiastic. "Users loved it and it opened up a =
whole=20
new world. This is because the Royal National =
Institute=20
of the Blind in the UK was a member of the =
consortium.=20
They told us what users needed," says Ahmed. The =
consortium also had strong links with the =
Italian=20
charity ANS.
Conceivably the device could create whole new =
fields=20
for visually-impaired people. With widespread =
use the=20
system could enable the emergence of new =
patterns to=20
represent graphical elements.
"Right now we're actively seeking ways to =
begin=20
commercial production. For that to happen, we =
first need=20
to produce a pre-production run and extend =
testing on=20
the device. We hope to raise the investment =
necessary to=20
tackle that stage. If that's achieved, then we =
could=20
move to production quite quickly," ends Ahmed. =
Contact:
Dr Sami =
Ahmed=20
Managing Director
Smart Technology Ltd =
Unit=20
41
Coleshill Industrial Estate
Coleshill =
Birmingham B46 1JT
United Kingdom =
Tel:=20
+44-8456-445059
Email. sami@smarttec.co.uk=20
Source: Based on information =
from=20
ITACTI =