These Visual Impairment Aids Let the Blind Feel What's On Screen
Alyson Wyers — May 8, 2014 — Tech
Thanks to advances in technology, there are more sophisticated visual impairment aids available for the blind. A new tactile system called Hamsa Touch uses electronic pulses to let visually impaired people feel what's on mobile and computer screens.
The braille-like device from Japanese researchers from the University of Electro-Communications combines the built-in camera function in smartphones with an electronic tactile display. By converting images into pulses, the visual impairment aids allow the blind to feel what's on screen. The prototype uses over 500 photo sensors, each of which correlates to its own electrode.
The Hamsa Touch still has a long way to go before it is ready. The team is working on performing user studies with blind people to receive feedback and figure out where improvements can be implemented.
The braille-like device from Japanese researchers from the University of Electro-Communications combines the built-in camera function in smartphones with an electronic tactile display. By converting images into pulses, the visual impairment aids allow the blind to feel what's on screen. The prototype uses over 500 photo sensors, each of which correlates to its own electrode.
The Hamsa Touch still has a long way to go before it is ready. The team is working on performing user studies with blind people to receive feedback and figure out where improvements can be implemented.
Trend Themes
1. Sophisticated Visual Impairment Aids - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop advanced tactile technologies to assist visually impaired individuals in perceiving digital content.
2. Electronic Tactile Display - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create new devices that convert visual information into electronic pulses, allowing the blind to feel images on screens.
3. User Studies with Blind People - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Conduct extensive user research to gather feedback and improve the effectiveness of visual impairment aids.
Industry Implications
1. Technology Innovation - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Leverage technological advancements to develop innovative solutions for visual impairment aids.
2. Assistive Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the intersection of technology and accessibility to create assistive solutions for individuals with visual impairments.
3. Healthcare Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Apply tactile display technology to the healthcare sector for improved patient communication and accessibility.
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