New Device Brings Virtual Sight to the Blind
Braille, in its original form, has been helping the blind read since 1821. It’s static, plain and unmoving. Sounds like it’s also time for a change. A blend of technologies from the National Institute for Standards and Technology hopes to push the threshold of reading to seeing by incorporating images and simple animations.
A computer translates images into thousands of tiny pins called a tactile graphic display. They, in turn, create a physical image that can be felt on the fingertips. These pins can be raised in any pattern and can simulate Web pages, printed material and scanned images. Animations could be outlined as a succession of images that continuously refresh on the device.
An even more exciting prospect straps to fingertips and allows the user to scan any item to be translated on the fly. The fingertip graphic reader immediately develops that image into tiny pin-receptors that are raised against the skin. This type of technology turns any computer screen, book or photo into a tactile object.
So where is technology that helps the blind see get its inspiration from? You remember as a child, that bed of nails toy that you could press your face or hand to and it would replicate it? Simply add a field of electric signals with a complicated translation device and, voilĂ , childhood toy turned modern miracle.
The same technology when applied to future tech could yield some very interesting byproducts. Imagine having the ability to transport tactile simulations through the internet to another person (wink, wink). Or being able to feel, with uncanny accuracy, the same thing a robot is touching. It puts a whole new spin on virtual reality.
[gizmag]
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Kate said
am October 31 2007 @ 10:48 am
This is definitely a fantastic development with potentially life-changing implications, but all I can think about is how it has ruined my favorite go-to gag line: “…about as satisfying as a blind man watching porn.”
No, in all seriousness, besides the improvement of personal communication, the health benefits (the whole robot doctor initiative comes to mind) could be incredible.
And from a money point of view, think of what awesome video games could be created, an RPG with the ability to feel the interactive environment…
Jerad Kaliher said
am October 31 2007 @ 7:49 pm
@Kate, I’m sure that one is a brave hit at the annual Braille convention.
Medical assistant robots, now that’s a good way to look at it. I was going for more of the bomb defusing robot or the long distance Mars robot, but that’ll work just fine.
I’ve always been fascinated with virtual reality, from the moment I sat in front of my Commodore 64. Detachment from reality is such a fascinating subject. Who needs to get a real job when you can choke goblins and dragons with your bare hands?
lordmanilastone said
am November 1 2007 @ 2:07 am
uouh, time for the blind to reap the benefits of modern technology,i can’t wait to hear a blind blogger someday, this is a good news for the millions out there who are deprived to see the beauty of the world, certainly, i don’t believe in the saying that sky is the limit…^^
Jerad Kaliher said
am November 2 2007 @ 5:51 am
@lordmanilastone, I hope that medical technology eventually cures blindness. The projects now that are being used as tools for the blind will most likely be used for a different purpose, and that is extremely exciting.
bloggingzoom.com said
am November 7 2007 @ 1:56 pm
New Device Brings Virtual Sight to the Blind…
“A blend of technologies from the National Institute for Standards and Technology hopes to push the threshold of reading to seeing by incorporating images and simple animations.”
Think of the many applications such technology could have for not only…
kayongo said
am January 15 2010 @ 5:34 am
Hello dear
its realy amazing. the blind can now see through the sense of touch.
what is the trick behind and which type of embosser does this.
keep it up.