A 64-Solenoid, Four-Level Fingertip Search Display for the Blind

Abstract

This paper describes the design and prototype model of a nonvibrating fingertip search display device. It was designed for use in experiments to determine the importance of fingertip exploration in tactile vision substitution. An 8 ×8 array of miniature dc solenoids mounted on 5 mm centers forms a raised two-dimensional display. With the aid of an IBM PC, it translates a visual image into a contour map of raised pins similar to transitory braille. The four possible pin heights of 0, 0.33, 0.67, and 1 mm represent discrete levels of image intensity. The user controls the location and resolution of the image sent from the IBM PC to the display by moving a mouse.