David,
That's some exceptionally clear argumentation for single-finger displays,
everyone agrees, so do I. It wasn't my intention to suggest using multi-finger
displays for reading. Actually I don't even expect the smaller 'mobile'
single-finger display to be all that useful for reading. It's quite clear that
the original Optacon R1 layout is the golden standard for this purpose.
There probably have been two misunderstandings here, my fault for not
communicating this more clearly:
1) My interest is both in reading text like with an Optacon, and scanning
images or surroundings with the support of more sophisticated image processing
than an Optacon is capable of. For reading, standard Optacon layout should be
used, no arguments here.
For scanning (real-world) images, other layouts may well be more appropriate.
Having high resolution for at least one fingertip may be important but so is
having a large 'field of view'. For example, when exploring images you will get
an overall impression fastest using multiple fingers, only when homing in to
examine details most people tend to focus on one finger.
Also, when 'keeping an eye' on a scene in real time, like with a video camera,
being able to notice movement in a large field of view is very valuable. This,
again, is easier and costs less when using multiple fingers.
Anyway, that's why there are multi-finger display options, I sure would like to
run tests with these.
2) There is no reason to remain limited to just one model. From a technical and
manufacturing point of view, models with different frames are mostly the same.
Most of the complexity and cost is in actuators, drivers, controllers etc. and
these are mostly the same. Supporting just a few different frame models is't
nearly as expensive as it used to be with modern manufacturing.
- Reinoud
On 03/06/15 21:22, David wrote:
I sure appreciate all the research and Pre-production work being done onto view the list archives, go to:
a followup Optacon. If you want some testing, and it can be done
off-site (am unable to travel), please contact me off-list:
trailerdavid@xxxxxxxxxxx
Yet, one tiny point to make, in connection with your alternatives for
display models. One of the big advantages I find with the Optacon, is
its SINGLE-FINGER design. First, long-term reading causes fattigue, and
swapping fingers have been a real saver for me. Second, if you are
designing something that requires multi-finger recognition,what then
with people who has damaged one of the required fingers? Even if I cut
my one finger, and it is one of the three your design relies on? Even a
standard Braille display can be read with just one finger, should the
user be limited. An Optacon, designed to rely on more than one finger,
may seem great in the first token - since you then can display higher
amount of info simultaneously. Yet I dare claim it soon will prove
little effective, and limit its own market value.
Thirdly, I have tested equipment earlier years, that depended on
multi-finger operation. Trouble was to interpret signals from all
fingers at the same time, and coordinate them in your brain. I thought
it was me, so I let a couple of students and others test it as well, and
they reported same issue. OK, it was more of a Braille mouse product, so
not exactly the Optacon. Still, I know there has been other products
that based their activity on multi-finger reading, and honestly, have
not seen any of them make it to the market.
About a year ago - or something like that - there was a discussion on
this very list, where the question came up: Which hand/finger do you use
to read Braille. Funny how many reported that they had one MAIN finger
for reading Braille. The rest of the fingers are more used for
coordinating and positioning on the paper. Just to back up my point:
If you base your display on more than one finger, you are likely
restricting your product out of the main market. Few people may be able
to do the mental/sensitivity acrobatics of making sufficient usage of it.
Also, be aware of a lot of people who are blinded at a grown-up age, and
who will have their full day busied, just to train enough sensitivity in
one finger.
My real-life based advice, for you and any other developer, is to keep
the display for ONE-FINGER reading. It definitely will give the product
the highest tayloring chance, and serve the most users' interests.
David
On 6/2/2015 6:15 PM, reinoud wrote:
More frame designs, this time some lower cost options, images can be found
here: https://tactact.wordpress.com/2015/06/01/frame-design-5/
These frames consist of one part, typically made of plastic, with actuators
mounted directly below the finger plate. This way they can be relatively low
cost and low profile. Compact coils are used like with the previously shown
high-res display, and they aren't necessarily limited to low power operation
despite being mounted in plastic, as explained below.
The first example (tctct2-frame-open-mini.png) accomodates a 10x16 array of
160 pins in roughly the same finger plate area as the standard Optacon
display. With a horizontal pitch of 1.5mm and a vertical pitch of 1.8mm,
this layout is not really appropriate for Optacon-like reading use (vertical
resolution is relatively low) but it may be an attractive alternative for
the 'mobile' version proposed before. Smaller versions with lower vertical
resolution (e.g. 10x10, 100 pins, just covering a fingertip) may be more
suitable for low cost and low power applications.
Disadvantages of this first design are resolution and power limitations, and
high precision manufacturing requirements due to the actuator packing
density. Also, interconnect cost will be high because of the curved actuator
array without a common node available, requiring two connections per
actuator.
The next design (tctct2-frame-open-mini-wide.png) improves resolution by
increasing width rather than height, intended for use with more than one
finger at a time. The example in the image has the same pin pitch as before
but has a less curved finger plate and is rotated 90 degrees. With 28x14
pins at 1.8x1.5mm it provides for 392 pins on a 48.6x19.5mm active area,
usually enough for 3 fingertips.
This arrangement has several advantages besides an obvious higher overall
resolution. Pin pitch is smaller in vertical direction now (like Optacon
displays), and even though the density is lower than an Optacon display it
covers a larger total area, all of which consists of the most sensitive part
of fingertips. Because of this I expect this display to perform quite well
at lower power and frequencies. Like the previous design, it still requires
a high precision plastic part and interconnect cost will be high.
Cost (including precision and interconnect requirements) can be brought down
by moving to a flat lower density display as shown in the third image
(tctct2-frame-open-mini-flat.png). This example has a 24x10 array of 240
pins on a 46x18mm active area display similar to the previous one. The lower
density allows for somewhat higher efficiency coils, mounted on a lower
precision, more heat resistant plastic frame, which allows driving at high
power. Also, with actuators mounted in a flat plane coil contacts can be
made to fit a printed circuit board below to simplify assembly.
This last frame design is quite a departure from the Optacon standard layout
but seems promising: it is relatively high resolution yet low cost, suitable
for high and low power modes, and has a simple low profile construction.
I am calculating costs for the various designs, will post on that soon!
Signatures for reference:
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