Tactile Air-Flux Perception Interface for Screen Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies fail to effectively convert visual information from computer screens into tactile perceptions for visually impaired individuals, limiting the usability and intuitiveness of computers for this demographic.

Innovation Solution

A device that recognizes visual information on a computer screen, processes it into tactile data by converting pixel values into fluid pressure, frequency, and temperature, and outputs this information through a matrix of pneumatic embodiments, allowing tactile representation of screen elements, including images, text, and pointer movements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If visual information is converted into tactile information using fluid projection, then visually impaired users can perceive screen content, but the device complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility for visually impaired usersVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display screen is divided into multiple pixel regions that are independently controlled. Each pixel or group of pixels can be individually activated to project tactile sensations, allowing complex visual information to be broken down into manageable tactile units that can be processed and projected separately

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A fluid projection system acts as an intermediary between the visual display and the user's tactile sensors. The system converts visual pixel data into fluid projections that carry tactile information, serving as a mediator that translates between different sensory modalities without requiring direct modification of the display hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If detailed visual information is projected tactilely, then information representation accuracy improves, but the response time decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation representation accuracyVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system projects tactile information for only those pixels that contain meaningful or changed data, rather than continuously projecting all pixels. This partial action approach maintains accurate representation of relevant information while reducing the overall processing time and resource consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The tactile projection operates periodically rather than continuously, updating the tactile display at intervals that correspond to changes in the visual content. This periodic refresh mechanism ensures accurate information representation while allowing the system to catch up on processing delays

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Ease of manufacture

If fluid projection is used for tactile display, then energy consumption increases, but the tactile sensation quality improves

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetactile sensation qualityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid projection system applies tactile sensation locally only to those specific regions where visual information needs to be conveyed. By concentrating fluid projection energy on relevant pixels rather than distributing it uniformly across the entire display, the system maintains high tactile sensation quality in critical areas while reducing overall energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 visually impaired users to interact with and understand computer interfaces tactilely, enhancing accessibility and usability, while also providing a deeper understanding of visual information for both impaired and normal users.

Implementation Method 1

controlling the burst fluids... by controlling the burst fluid pressure, burst fluid frequency and burst fluid temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure control: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

each pixel... is individually converted into a corresponding embodiment... by controlling the burst fluid pressure, burst fluid frequency and burst fluid temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid dynamics: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentUS10175756B2Tactile representation of detailed visual and other sensory information by a perception interface apparatus

Publication Date: 2019.01.08 REBOLLEDO MENDEZ JOVAN DAVID

AI summary

The present invention describes a series of embodiments that permit the characterization of digital information (i.e. pixels from screen, data from sensors, etc.) onto analogical tactile air-fluxes perception of such data (such as hue, lightness, saturation, and chromaticity, among others), by using software, hardware and pneumatic embodiments to form an apparatus targeted originally for visually impaired people, but with applications to other types of users as well. Such characterizations are based in the change of three different variables affecting directly each single the apparatus' air fluxes: pressure, frequency and heat. This patent also includes the mode of using any Operating System's windowing elements, such as window's borders, menu, etc., into such representation executed and supplied by the apparatus. The use of a mouse, its movement and clicking are also described as part of this invention.