Dan,
Sorry to disappoint you, but the technology for Optacon-type tactile
displays is not currently showing much potential for near-term
improvement. The current thrust of most tactile reading technology
is focused on braille and tactile graphics displays, and this part of
the field is making progress with several new products and patents or
patent applications.
The technology for fingertip tactile image displays is not currently
able to produce (in the near-term) dynamic tactile image displays
that could be significantly better, reliable, and less expensive than
the 50 year-old piezo electronic reed tech that was used in the
Optacon 1 and 2.
The technology that seems most promising for appropriate tactile
image displays is the recently developed 4D printing techniques for
building fine arrays of EAP (Electro Active Polymer) structures that
may be able to rapidly vibrate pins of a tactile image
displays. MEMS (Micro Mechanical Electronic Machine) fabrication
techniques is another method of fabricating arrays of EAP vibrators,
and some MEM researchers were beginning to investigate using MEM tech
to make an Optacon array; however, the Covid-19 pandemic has stalled
or maybe even totally killed the most hopeful of that work.
I (and I suspect several others) will be happy to let this list know
if and when any tactile image technology proves to be viable for use
on a new Optacon.
Cordially,
Noel
At 06:31 AM 8/10/2020, dan.tevelde@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
Hi Noel,
I'm a bit surprised about the results finding a tactile array which would
work. I know you mentioned that the technology used by Orbit Research isn't
suitable. I participate in their monthly Zoom calls. Has anyone approached
Orbit Research to see if they are interested? With all the research and
implementation of haptic technology I would think that someone could come up
with a suitable tactile array. I recently read that the American Printing
House for the Blind is soliciting a proposal for the development of a
graphics display. Could they be persuaded that a new optacon might have
some value?
I agree with you that for now we should concentrate on repairing existing
optacons. I guess if worse came to worse, someone could fabricate new
optacons based on the present design instead of developing a new type of
optacon. I would think the challenge would be getting parts. Getting parts
would be a challenge for any new device as well. Humanware is introducing a
new Braille display because they say they can't get parts for their current
models. I suppose this could happen to other Braille display manufacturers.
These are just my thoughts.
Dan
-----Original Message-----
From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On
Behalf Of Noel Runyan
Sent: Sunday, August 9, 2020 7:08 PM
To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: New Optacon
Dan et al,
There have ben several researchers, other than Charles Pond, who have been
working on developing tactile array systems for a possible new Optacon
device. Lavan Fernando and others have built actual hardware systems to
test the actuators. However, there do not appear to be any current display
projects that are showing enough promise to be worth getting everybody's'
hopes up. Until there is a truly promising tactile array technology
demonstrated and vetted by others in the tactile actuator research field, it
would be foolish to start ramping up hopes and fund raising efforts towards
a complete Optacon III development project.
At the current time, I think the best use of our time and resources is best
invested in gathering together all the unused Optacons and support equipment
such as cameras.
Cordially,
Noel
-
Noel H. Runyan
-
At 12:44 PM 8/9/2020, Dan.tevelde@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
I think there are several reasons why we are not seeing a new optacon.other OCR application incorrectly interprets tabular data.
So far, Charles Pond has been the only person as far as I know who has
reported on prototyping a new optacon. If others on the list have been
involved in a project, I don't know about it. In order to develop a
new optacon we need the following items.
The easiest item would be developing some promotional videos. The
videos I have seen on YouTube are out of date. We need new videos
demonstrating the optacon in terms of tasks which no other device can
do. I'm not qualified to make such a video. I lost my optacon skills
because I didn't have access to a device. It would be great if someone
making the videos would compare the optacon with some
currently-available technology in such as way that the person watching
or listening to the video would understand what makes the optacon
unique. One approach might be comparing the optacon to an OCR
application like KNFB Reader. Find an example where KNFB Reader or some
started.
The next steps would be to create social media accounts on Facebook,
Twitter, and LinkedIn. People are using social media rather than
mailing lists to get information. The word optacon would get lots of
search results through search engine optimization. I see numerous job
leads and connection requests on LinkedIn every day. IF there are
people in this group who are savvy with social media then they can get
to:
The other items we need are formal documents containing use cases and
user data for the current optacon, a possible specification for a new
optacon, and a formal business plan. A couple of years ago I tested a
hardware device which was a type of mouse to provide tactile feedback
and allow the user to interact with a computer. I thought the device
had potential. The company failed because they had no formal
documentation of how their technology worked or a formal business plan
to request funds for producing the device. The president of the
company thought he could succeed by begging for money. The project
failed for a variety of reasons and I don't expect anything more from
the company unless they determine what they want to accomplish. I
mention the failure as an object lesson in what should be avoided.
So this is the situation we are in. It would be a tall order to
develop a new optacon but I don't think it would be impossible. It
takes an organized group of people to develop a business plan.
Dan
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