Development and Commercialization of the Tactile Graphic Array, a Portable Touch Reading Device for the Blind.
Blind individuals who have been hurt by the disappearance of the Optacon, can recover with the Tactile Graphic Array currently under development, their ability to read graphics by touch.
This Project, still underway, has been funded by Grants from the National Science Foundation.
Design of the Tactile Graphic Array:
To make Touch Reading Portable , the new Display uses new patented dot actuators which can easily fit under the active area of the Display.
To make Touch Reading Affordable , these new patented dot actuators use Shape Memory Alloy wires, which cost only a tiny fraction of the currently used piezo-electric actuators.
To make Touch Reading Flexible , the new Display uses Single Dot Modules which can be laid-out to combine on the same display Braille Areas and Graphic Areas.