This research will develop an electrotactile haptic display to present computer graphics to blind persons. The increasing use of computer graphics and pictorial displays (such as the Macintosh and Microsoft Windows environments) presents a major problem for blind computer users. While text output is available through Braille, Optacon (optical-to- tactile converter), or speech synthesis, none of these techniques are suitable for presentation of complex pictorial or spatial information (organizational charts, computer program or process flowcharts, electrical, architectural, or mechanical drawings, three-dimensional graphs, pictures, visual artwork). The proposed investigations will create a flat, smooth tablet with embedded electrodes and external driver circuitry that can electrically display pictorial information from a computer directly to the skin. A blind user will then be able to interpret the properly-formatted percepts that s/he acquires by scanning the display with the fingertips. Exploratory research during Year 1 will extend present electrotactile knowledge to electrical stimulation of touch on the fingertip. Studies will determine the stimulation mode (direct afferent nerve stimulation or indirect electrostatic/mechanical stimulation), electrode geometry, and waveform characteristics that produce strong, repeatable, and comfortable single-point stimulation. Year 2 efforts will develop a small two-dimensional fingertip-scanned (haptic) display. Basic perceptual studies with this two-dimensional display will likely suggest further improvements in electrode geometry or driving waveform. During Year 3, this display (with associated electronics and control software) will grow at least ten times larger so that complex geometric and pictorial information from a computer screen can be displayed. Extensive perceptual studies during Year 4 will test the hypothesis that complex pictorial information is more readily perceived by haptic exploration with the fingertips than through a fixed-location 384-point electrotactile display on the abdomen (currently-available technology). Research during Year 5 will explore the feasibility of other rehabilitation applications, including retraining the visual perception of individuals with stroke-induced visual agnosia (intact eye and optic nerve), and dyslexia. We hypothesize that simultaneous display of """"""""visual"""""""" information tactually and visually (on a computer screen), in conjunction with the user's properly-functioning tactile perceptual system, can cause functional reorganization of the damaged visual processing areas of the brain, effecting improved visual perception.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY010019-02
Application #
2163732
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-VISB (02))
Project Start
1992-12-01
Project End
1996-11-30
Budget Start
1993-12-01
Budget End
1994-11-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1994
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Other Basic Sciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
Kaczmarek, Kurt A; Tyler, Mitchell E; Okpara, Uchechukwu O et al. (2017) Interaction of Perceived Frequency and Intensity in Fingertip Electrotactile Stimulation: Dissimilarity Ratings and Multidimensional Scaling. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 25:2067-2074
Kaczmarek, K A (2011) The tongue display unit (TDU) for electrotactile spatiotemporal pattern presentation. Sci Iran D Comput Sci Eng Electr Eng 18:1476-1485
Lozano, Cecil A; Kaczmarek, Kurt A; Santello, Marco (2009) Electrotactile stimulation on the tongue: Intensity perception, discrimination, and cross-modality estimation. Somatosens Mot Res 26:50-63
Kaczmarek, Kurt A; Nammi, Krishnakant; Agarwal, Abhishek K et al. (2006) Polarity effect in electrovibration for tactile display. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 53:2047-54
Haase, S J; Kaczmarek, K A (2005) Electrotactile perception of scatterplots on the fingertips and abdomen. Med Biol Eng Comput 43:283-9
Kaczmarek, Kurt A; Haase, Steven J (2003) Pattern identification and perceived stimulus quality as a function of stimulation waveform on a fingertip-scanned electrotactile display. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 11:9-16
Kaczmarek, Kurt A; Haase, Steven J (2003) Pattern identification as a function of stimulation current on a fingertip-scanned electrotactile display. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 11:269-75
Kaczmarek, K A; Tyler, M E; Brisben, A J et al. (2000) The afferent neural response to electrotactile stimuli: preliminary results. IEEE Trans Rehabil Eng 8:268-70
Kaczmarek, K A (2000) Electrotactile adaptation on the abdomen: preliminary results. IEEE Trans Rehabil Eng 8:499-505
Bach-y-Rita, P; Aiello, G L (1996) Nerve length and volume in synaptic vs diffusion neurotransmission: a model. Neuroreport 7:1502-4

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