Practical Use of Interactive TactilPractical Use of Interactive Tactile Graphic Display System at a Se Graphic Display System at a S

chool for the Blindchool for the BlindTetsuya Watanabe (Nat. Inst. of Special Education)Tetsuya Watanabe (Nat. Inst. of Special Education)Makoto Kobayashi (Tsukuba Univ. of Technology)Makoto Kobayashi (Tsukuba Univ. of Technology)Shoichiro Ono, and Keiko Yokoyama (Fukushima PrShoichiro Ono, and Keiko Yokoyama (Fukushima Pr

efectual School for the Blind)efectual School for the Blind)

In this presentaionIn this presentaion

1.1. Review methods to produce tactile graphiReview methods to produce tactile graphics.cs.

2.2. Why we use tactile graphic display and whWhy we use tactile graphic display and what it is?at it is?

3.3. Demonstrate its effective usage in educatiDemonstrate its effective usage in education of blind students.on of blind students.

Video clips taken in lessons.Video clips taken in lessons.

Methods to produce tactile graphicMethods to produce tactile graphicss ：： Capsule paper

Widely used in schools because of its simple production.

Methods to produce tactile graphicMethods to produce tactile graphicss ：： Embosser or braille printe

r

Useful software is available.

Methods to produce tactile graphicMethods to produce tactile graphicss ：： Vacuum former

Can produce 3-D shapes. Enduring Expensive

Tangible line drawer:Raised line drawing kit

Special plastic sheet raised when scratched with a pen.Special plastic sheet raised when scratched with a pen. Blind persons can use it by themselves.Blind persons can use it by themselves.

Drawbacks of these methodsDrawbacks of these methods Produced by sighted persons.

Except for raised line drawing kit Lack of rewritability (erasability)

These tactile graphics are NOT rewritable (erasable) once drawn or made.

Lack of realtimeness Except for raised line drawing kit

Tactile graphic display sytem is used to solve these problems.

Tactile graphic cell Tactile graphic display consists of tactile grTactile graphic display consists of tactile gr

aphic cells.aphic cells.

Piezoelectronic actuatorPiezoelectronic actuators push up and down the s push up and down the tactile pins.tactile pins.

Pin diameter:Pin diameter: 1.3 m1.3 mmm

Pin stroke:Pin stroke: 0.7 mm0.7 mm Interpin spacing: 3 mmInterpin spacing: 3 mm Tactile graphic cell SC-5,Tactile graphic cell SC-5,

KGS Corporation, JapanKGS Corporation, Japan

Interactive Tactile Graphic System

Consists of a three dimensional digitizer and a tactile graphic display and original progaram.

Functions of the SystemFunctions of the System As a drawing tool

Drawing static and blinking lines Erasing raised lines Clearing the whole screen

Tactile Animation Linear Movements Rightward and Leftward Page-Flipping Animation

Can be used in combination with Microsoft PowerPoint

Basic Functions:Basic Functions:Drawing and ErasingDrawing and Erasing

Test Use at a School for the BlindTest Use at a School for the Blind

Purpose: To evaluate the system from a practical viewpoint.

whether the system can be used as a teaching tool and in what way

what kind of improvements are needed

In a science lessonIn a science lesson

In a gymnastics lessonIn a gymnastics lesson

In a science lesson (preIn a science lesson (pre

Tactile Game:Tactile Game:Whack a MoleWhack a Mole

Tactile Game:Tactile Game:Ping-PongPing-Pong

Tactual reproduction of a statueTactual reproduction of a statue3D to 2D3D to 2D

Highly evaluated points Easy to learn to draw and erase.

The teacher can know whether or not the student understand what he/she has learned by having them draw it.

Blinking dots & lines Easily attracted the attention.

Page Flipping Animation Usable to understand the movements

Students in lower grades enjoyed tactile games.

Problems of the System Interdot spaces are too wide (3 mm) . Hard to draw straight lines.

Oblique lines were felt as zig-zag lines.

Utilizing new technology:Ultrasonic Pen

An ultrasonic pen is usedAn ultrasonic pen is used In place of a 3D digitizerIn place of a 3D digitizer

Test use by a blind researcherTest use by a blind researcher He could write his nameHe could write his name

Summary Interactive tactile graphics system was develInteractive tactile graphics system was devel

oped and was proved to be able to allow blinoped and was proved to be able to allow blind persons to draw and erase tactile graphics.d persons to draw and erase tactile graphics.

Usable in lessons at a school for the blind.Usable in lessons at a school for the blind. Future directionFuture direction

Hardware: Improvement of tactile display needeHardware: Improvement of tactile display needed.d.

Software: More contents needed.Software: More contents needed. Too expensiveToo expensive

You can make MIMIYou can make MIMIZU by yourself !ZU by yourself !

http://www.cs.k.tsukuba-tech.ac.jp/labo/khttp://www.cs.k.tsukuba-tech.ac.jp/labo/koba/research/dv-1.htmloba/research/dv-1.html