The proposed innovation is an inexpensive, visible light information transfer system (VLITS) to transmit data to a personal data display (PDD) that can be used to convey information to deaf and hard of hearing users. VLITS is remarkably inexpensive because it requires no additional or special wiring other than that already typically installed for existing lighting fixtures. The network uses currently installed visible lighting, such as incandescent or fluorescent lighting, as the carrier medium for the data. The PDD receives information transmitted to a user over ambient room lighting and provides it to the user in graphical or textual form. The system varies the light output of lighting fixtures to transmit data at a sufficiently rapid rate that there is no susceptible visual flicker in light output. Data encoded in the lamp light is sent to a small personal data display that presents textual or graphical information to the deaf and hard of hearing meeting participants, students, travelers or occupants of a building. The system will be developed in connection with deaf and hard of hearing users and will be evaluated and tested by these users to maximize its user friendliness and value.

Proposed Commercial Applications

Assistive network for deaf and hard of hearing users comprising: 1. conventional lighting fixtures 2. modified light ballasts 3. graphical/textual receivers

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase I (R43)
Project #
1R43DC004015-01
Application #
2800193
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IFCN-8 (02))
Project Start
1999-08-15
Project End
2001-02-14
Budget Start
1999-08-15
Budget End
2001-02-14
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Talking Lights, LLC
Department
Type
DUNS #
027077192
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02129