Electrovibrations, an infant technology for touch screens, are what my design is

inspired and utilized by. The user feels a texture under his or her �nger, which is caused

by electrical charges sent to the pinpointed location on the screen that the �nger is

touching. This could be used to create the texture of a page of Braille, and my design

implements this possibility to make touch screens for Braille communication. This would

open up a massive variety of previously unavailable technologies, media, and

communication for the blind. Some possibilities include email and text message as well

as form completion and other disability services. The device could also be used like a

Kindle or similar interactive reading device, making texts, books, and other media more

available to Braille readers.

The technology could be used for communication for anyone who reads Braille.

Those who are blind can not use current touch screen devices, but with the

electrovibrations Braille could be digitally simulated underneath the moving �nger

touching the screen. With a particular algorithm, text could be digitally translated into

Braille to be felt by the �nger.

The user interacts with this system (mapped below) by placing his or her �nger on

the screen and then moves it around to read what is on it. To depict a website format or

button options, the texture could make the user feel a button around the text, indicated

that that part of the screen acts like a button to be pressed. In order to activate the

button the user must double-tap or use some other indication. The text would be

mapped to the screen so the user can use both hands and multiple �ngers, feeling the

particular texture of whichever spot that the �ngers are moving across. The dips and

bumps can be felt even by a stationary �nger. Since the user will constantly be touching

the screen, the interactions required to do special actions such as turning a page or

scrolling will be particularly designed based on the needs of Braille readers.

Mae TidmanNovember 24, 2010LCC 3710 Prin. Interaction DesignFinal Project – design document

Algorithm translates textinto a texture that is mappedout for the particular screen.

Texture consists of series of bumps anddips, just like a page

of Braille.

Words gathered fromthe Internet - a

particular websiteor from a book or

other media.

The �nger locationis pinpointed and a

voltage is sent to thepoint creating a sensationfor the moving �nger to

feel bumps and dips.