Haptic Speech Training System for Hearing Impaired Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
The hearing impaired population faces difficulties in communicating effectively with the general population due to the lack of non-surgical options that provide adequate communication tools, with existing solutions like cochlear implants being expensive and requiring surgery, and traditional methods like sign language being ineffective for interactions with non-hearing impaired individuals.
Innovation Solution
A haptic output device and speech training system that convert audible speech into haptic sensations, allowing hearing impaired individuals to understand spoken language through wearable technology and providing training for proper enunciation, enabling effective communication without the need for surgical implants or sign language.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cochlear implant is used to restore hearing, then communication ability is improved, but the cost and surgical requirement make it inaccessible to many
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (haptic output device) that converts auditory information into haptic sensations. This mediator allows hearing-impaired individuals to perceive speech without requiring surgical implants, thus improving accessibility while maintaining communication ability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/surgical cochlear implant system with a non-invasive haptic output system that uses vibrations and tactile sensations to convey auditory information, eliminating the need for surgery while achieving similar communication restoration.
2Reliability
If sign language is used for communication, then hearing impaired individuals can communicate with each other, but they cannot effectively communicate with hearing persons
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic output device serves multiple functions: it enables hearing-impaired individuals to perceive speech from hearing persons, and the system can be used bidirectionally. This universal solution allows effective communication between hearing and hearing-impaired individuals without requiring sign language proficiency from either party.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of information transmission from auditory signals to haptic signals. By transforming speech into tactile vibrations, the system creates a universal communication channel that both hearing and hearing-impaired individuals can utilize, expanding communication compatibility.
3Ease of operation
If traditional non-surgical options like lip reading are used, then no surgery is required, but communication effectiveness with hearing persons remains poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual-based lip reading with a haptic-based system that directly translates auditory vibrations into tactile sensations. This substitution provides superior communication effectiveness by capturing the actual sound wave characteristics and converting them to perceivable haptic patterns, eliminating the inaccuracies of visual lip reading.
Solution Approach 2:
The haptic output device acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between auditory speech and the hearing-impaired user's perception. This mediator provides direct haptic feedback corresponding to speech sounds, achieving reliable communication without surgery while dramatically improving effectiveness over traditional non-surgical methods.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables hearing impaired individuals to communicate effectively with non-hearing impaired persons by translating spoken language into haptic sensations and teaching proper enunciation, overcoming the limitations of existing technologies and traditional communication methods.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator configured to receive the haptic signal and provide haptic sensations based on the haptic signal
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method includes providing a speech training device configured to teach a hearing impaired user how to understand spoken language. The method further includes providing a haptic output device to a hearing impaired user, the haptic output device coupled to the hearing impaired user. The haptic output device receives a speech input from a non-hearing impaired person, the speech input directed to the hearing impaired user, and the haptic output device provides a haptic sensation to the hearing impaired user. The communication method also teaches a hearing-impaired person how to speak, and can teach a non-hearing impaired user to speak a foreign language. The communication method includes comparing speech of a user to a model speech, providing feedback to the user regarding the comparison, and repeating until the speech of the user matches the model speech.