Jordyn's Haptic User Interface (HUI) Phase 2 ECE 480 Team 6 Spring Semester 2013 Home Documents Progress Pictures Team Information Project Description The ECE480 project described below was conducted in the 2012 fall semester. This very successful effort: (http://www.egr.msu.edu/classes/ece480/capstone/fall12/group03/?page_id=61) demonstrated that a simple haptic feedback device using inexpensive solenoids could be useful to the blind in accessing graphic information on a computer screen.   This phase 2 project will carry this effort further by developing a second haptic display that will be higher resolution and perhaps non-vibrating.  The 4 blind individuals (Jordyn Castor, Michael Hudson, Al Puzzouli, and Mauricio Almeida) who tested this device disliked the vibration of the display pins.    Jordyn is a second year computer science student at MSU who experiences blindness. This project’s goal is to construct a refreshable haptic display for Jordyn that will enable her to interact and alter drawings and other graphic materials. Many different haptic systems are available commercially and by custom construction as shown in Fig 2 to Fig 5. The Phantom Omni was used at MSU’s Robotics and Automation Laboratory and some of the hardware for building the other haptic systems is available at the RCPD.   The minimal tasks required for this project are to purchase or build the hardware components, such as those shown in the figures, to construct a simple 2D haptic display that can be given a line drawing via USB or similar connection from a computer. As Jordyn studies her physics and math materials she will be able to send these graphic images to this display and then feel them. Further software developers can add features to this device that will enable embedding voice notes, sounds, or other meaningful information to the drawings. Also providing a way for Jordyn to create and alter drawings via CAD or freehand methods should be considered.