Award Date

5-1-2012

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Mechanical Engineering

First Committee Member

Mohamed B. Trabia

Second Committee Member

Woosoon Yim

Third Committee Member

Brendan O'Toole

Fourth Committee Member

Robert Boehm

Fifth Committee Member

Gabriele Wulf

Number of Pages

93

Abstract

The objective of this research is to design an affordable Braille tactile display that is wearable, refreshable, and portable. The device is intended to be used as an output device that can playback stored media. It can be also incorporated with current Braille reading technologies. The device will control both the electrical and mechanical stimulations to optimize the sensation and ensure extended use of the device. This work is concerned mainly with the mechanical aspects of the design.

This research proposed the development of a finger-wearable, scanning-style electric stimulation based (electrotactile) Braille display with sensing and adaptive rendering/actuation functions for assisting the BVI. E-Braille technology will allow the BVI to perform important tasks such as reading, writing, typing in Braille, printing text, browsing the Internet, engaging in on-line conversations, and perceiving graphics. Combined with the Cyber-Infrastructure network technology, E-Braille will allow the BVI to access more text, books and libraries anytime and anywhere. Additionally, the proposed E-Braille will provide a tool for collaborative research in the biomedical field involving psychophysicists, neurocytologists, electrochemists, and cognitive scientists. E-Braille will fill a gap in portable and adaptive "seeing" rehabilitation technology by providing the BVI with a fast, refreshable, and individualized electronic Braille tactile display. The proposed E-Braille system will dramatically enhance the lives of millions of the BVI by providing them with unprecedented access to information and communication at an affordable price and using the state-of-the-art sensing technology.

Keywords

Braille – Data processing; Brushless DC Motor; Brushless direct current electric motors; Force Sensing Resistor; Human Tactile Force; Information display systems; Microcontrollers; PID Controller; System Identification; Tactile sensors

Disciplines

Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering | Mechanical Engineering

File Format

pdf

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Download


Share

COinS