Development and Evaluation of a Tactile Device for the Blind and the Deaf

Abstract

In this study, a novel tactile device was designed for assisting the “seeing”, “hearing”, and “speaking” functions by using a 2-D tactile display and a tactile matrix sensor for the blind, the deaf and the deafblind. In the interface, the directions are sensed by an electronic compass inside the mobile phone, which transmits signals to the tactile display consisting of 32 piezoelectric devices. In addition, environmental sounds or speech sounds can be detected by a microphone attached to the mobile phone. The time spectral patterns of sounds can be represented on the tactile display. Further, the tactile information obtained by touching and tracing the tactile matrix sensor can be displayed onto a receiver's fingertip thorough the mobile phone. These functions are useful for users with sensory disabilities such as the blind, the deaf, and the deafblind and enable them to communicate with the normal people.