Analysis
of a synthetic Tadoma System, As a multidimensional tactile display,
The tadoma is a means of speech reception based on tactile monitoring of
the articulatory process. A "synthetic" Tadoma system. involving an artificial
face with six facial actions.
Block Letter Communicator. This portable device is designed
for people who are not able to read braille. The characters that you can
feel on the device are a type of blockletter (one character at a time).
However this device works only one way, so the deafblind person must be
able to answer by speech. Delivered with cover, rechargeable batteries
and charger. It takes some practice before the deafblind person is able
to feel and recognize the characters. Price: £1,040.00.
Brailtalk, is a slim pocket-sized hinged plastic case which
opens to display the braille alphabet embossed beneath the corresponding
raised print letters. Intended to be used as a communication card, the
sighted person "talks" by moving the deafblind person's fingers over the
letters. This device is also suitable for teaching the beginning of Braille.
As a conversation tool for the deafblind with those who cannot fingerspell,
and it can be used for writing limited braille messages. To use Brailtalk,
as a conversation tool, place the recipient's finger on the appropriate
braille or print characters and spell out words and sentences. The Brailtalk
comes with a card that has on it "Brailtalk, I am Deafblind and this card
enables you and me to talk to each other. Please place my index finger
on each letter and number and i will indicate that I understand."
You would give the card to the person you are trying to communicate too.
I have a Brailtalk myself and I think it is a great little device.
Brian And Jance Payne
28 Crofton Avenue,
Orpington,
KENT,
ENGLAND,
BR6 8DU.
United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 1689 856118.
Braille
Lite, is an excellent little device. Its so portable that it can be
taken anywhere, it is one of the smallest, most lightweight refreshable
Braille products available today. Its simplicity and versatility make it
popular with users of all ages, including people who are deafblind. It
has a 18-cell refreshable braille display. but there is a 40-cell display
unit available as well now, it also has a standard Braille keyboard and
simple command structure, a fully adjustable speech synthesizer, but a
Deafblind person wouldn't require the synthesizer function so this can
be easily switched off. The Braille Light is about the size of a VHS video
tape and it's weight is about two pounds. I use a Braille Lite 18 myself
and would not know what to do without it, It a great little device.
BraillePhone, I don't have very much information about this
new device, but that it is smaller than the Telebraille. As soon as I find
more info about the BraillePhone I will put it on Deafblind Link. But here
is a contact address for the makers.
Audio Visual Mart
P. O. 23020,
Harahan,
LA 70183-0020
Tel: (504) 733-1500
(800) 737-6278
Fax: (504) 733-1662.
Braille TeleCaption System, used with a Telebrailler or other
Braille telephone device, provides news, weather, sparts and educational
television programming to deaf-blind individuals nationwide on ABC, CBS
and NBC. The system translates data into Grade 1 Braille. Deaf-blind persons
who have a Telebrailler or other braille telephone device may use them
to read the Braille characters. The telebrailler receives the information
like a telephone call and prints it out on its 20-character Braille display.
Science Applications International Corporation
135 Old Solomons Island Rd.
Annapolis,
MD 21401
Tel: (301)266-0993.
Closed Caption\Braille Computer System (CCBCS) Mr Nelson
Dew has developed a television closed caption to braille computer system
which allows a deaf-blind person to read, in braille, televised closed
captioning programs. The data input-output and translation are under computer
software control. The Hardware consists of a video tape recorder, an IBM
compatible computer, and a special closed caption to braille computer card.
The above hardware, when used with the customer supplied TeleBraille, will
display closed captioning in either Grade I or II braille. Nelson system
is fully developed and on the market in the U.S. It is designed for
the deaf-blind who already have a Telebraille and the system is connected
to the telebraille via a telephone handset. He is listed under the DBLink
database as DEWTRONICS. If you wish to contact Mr Dew for further information
about his Closed Caption\Braille Computer System.
CUPID, by Assistive
Technology from Cloudworld, Buy once - use anywhere. Cupid is an information
management system developed by Cloudworld Ltd. of London UK. In 1996 Cloudworld
won a SMART award from the UK Department of Trade and Industry to develop
a computer system usable by print-disabled people, with a patented tactile
output device.
The software is written in Java, so that it runs on a wide
range of computers - from desktops to palmtops. A special wearable computer
is being developed, allowing you to use Cupid anywhere with audio or tactile
output. You plug it into the television for visual output. You operate
it using a chordal keypad. You can link into the environment using infrared
technology, e.g. for access to kiosks, talking signs, smart appliances,
etc. You can access the Internet for email and the web.
Universal design principles, Cloudworld has applied principles
of universal design, with the aim of making Cupid accessible to all people,
regardless of age, ability or disability. Therefore it has been designed
with a number of modes of input and output, and to be very simple to use
with whatever configuration of input and output the user chooses. But the
system is especially suitable for use with three forms of serial output:
speech output, the novel tactile output, and a word-at-a-time visual display
which has large characters for reading by partially sighted people. The
tactile output is like a single cell Braille display, with two major differences,
the patterns for characters are presented by vibration of pins across fingers
and thumb, and the patterns are optimized for speed of reading, and are
not based on Braille codes. There are two pins per finger, and four for
the thumb. Pins are spaced about 1 cm. apart, so that vibrations on different
pins on the same finger or thumb can be easily distinguished with only
a little practice. If both pins are vibrated a higher frequency is used,
making it easy to distinguish from the case of single pin vibration. As
regards coding, commonly occurring letters involve one finger, and less
common letters involve thumb and one finger. Reading at up to 100 words
per minute is feasible.
Development
of a Computer-Based Interpretation System for Deaf-Blind Individuals,
by Beth E. Finn and Krista Caudill. Communication is the basis of human
interaction. The barriers to communication that deaf-blind individuals
face deny them of many independent interactions with the world. The project
combines several recently available technologies into a system which reduces
the need for an interpreter, thus allowing greater independence and interaction
with the world.
The problems deaf-blind individuals face include a feeling
of isolation, a lack of independence, difficulty in obtaining education,
and inadequate employment opportunities. In the past, overcoming these
obstacles has been difficult, if not impossible. The underlying foundation
of these problems is a barrier to communication. Combining recently developed
technologies to facilitate communication will allow deaf-blind individuals
to bridge the communication gap.
If the need for interpreters could be eliminated or reduced,
the independence of deaf-blind individuals would be greatly improved. They
have designed a computer based system which allows deaf-blind individuals
to achieve this freedom.
The deaf-blind user is working in an office with a computer.
A co-worker enters the room, triggering a device that sends a signal to
the user, announcing the co-worker's presence. The user's choice of responses
includes: acknowledging the co-worker, ignoring the co-worker, or indicating
that the co-worker should come back at a more convenient time. Once acknowledged,
the co-worker lifts the handset, says, "Hello," and several processes begin
simultaneously. In the background, without interrupting currently open
applications, the computer chooses the appropriate voice file for the co-worker.
Additionally, a second signal indicates that the co-worker wishes to speak
to the user.
The system described in the scenario was implemented as a
laboratory prototype. The front end software integrates several components
to translate speech to Braille, and keyboard input to synthesized speech.
Dexter, Provides face-to-face communication, and telephone
and computer access for deafblind people with tactile-fingerspelling skills.
Dexter is a robotic hand which can form the letters of the one-hand manual
alphabet of the deaf. It forms the hand configurations in response to letters
typed on an interfaced computer keyboard. It can also display information
on an interfaced computer screen, letter by letter. Deafblind persons "read"
Dexter by feeling its hand positions.Work is under way to enable Dexter
to display the message sent from a TDD (Telecommunications Device for the
Deaf). The Smith-Kettlewell Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center
believes that braille is far superior to a robotic fingerspelling hand
as a display for deafblind persons. However, for those who know tactile
fingerspelling and not braille, Dexter has the potential to serve as an
extremely important tool. It allows deafblind people to receive direct
communication from individuals who are unfamiliar with fingerspelling.
It also provides deafblind people access to computer information. Eventually
Dexter will allow deafblind, non-braille readers access to telecommunication.
Dexter is an experimental prototype undergoing further development
by Upstart Robots, Inc. in San Francisco, in collaboration with Smith-Kettlewell,
with the goal of future commercialization.
Finger Braille Supporting Device. 'Yubi-Tenji' or finger
braille system involves touching the opposite persons fingers (3 on left
and 3 on right hand) to express the characters of the braille system. This
allows fast and reliable communication but is limited to conversations
between 2 people. The Finger Braille Supporting Device has been developed
to allow several persons to take part in a conversation simultaneously.
In response to the touch of the sender on the sensor, the message is transmitted
to the back of the fingertips of the receiver by means of motor actuators.
The sensors and actuators are connected by a cable which may extend to
the length of the room. Since the device has 6 sensors and 6 actuators,
two way conversation is possible between 2 people. By connecting several
devices in a cascade, simultaneous conversation between several people
is possible. The principle of the device is that if one person touches
the sensor, the signal will be received by all acuators and vice-versa
for the reply. the device has 6 sensing switches and 6 actuators driven
by a gear motor. The case contains a one-chip microcomputer. If any switch
is on the computer will send the code to both serial ports simultaneously.
The code is similar to that used in a MIDI sound system with the exception
that the Baud rate is slower.
Flat Magnetic Stainless Steel Speakers, A supplementary device
to aid morse code reception on the radio frequency for deafblind persons.
The FO of this device (lowest resonance frequency) is about 800 cycles.
It gives maximum power on this frequency. These magnetic speakers can be
substituted for an existing 'dynamic' audio speaker to provide a lower
frequency which is more appropriate for morse code. The stainless steel
plate on these speakers also give a harder vibrating tone for morse code
reception. Price: ¥440
FM
Systems with Children who are Deaf-Blind, The focus of this four-year
research to practice project is the contribution of FM systems to the development
of communication skills in infants, toddlers, children, and youth who are
deaf-blind. Classrooms and other public areas such as auditoriums, theaters,
and restaurants provide a poor acoustical environment for individuals who
have a hearing loss, and it is often difficult for them to discriminate
between the speaker and background noise with a hearing aid.
HASICOM,
(Hearing and Sight Impaired Communications), The Technology Services
Section of Deafblind UK Technologies aims not only to support and develop
the use of existing information technology by deafblind people, but also
to pioneer the introduction of extra hardware to provide further means
by which a deafblind person can use a computer. For example, a device called
the handtapper, which enables a deafblind person to read computer-based
information using an electronic reproduction of the information in the
form of the British Deafblind Manual Alphabet, has been developed for use
with a standard PC, and software to make it applicable to a range of information
access functions, such as telecommunications and obtaining information
from teletext, is well under development it will also ultimately support
other European versions of the deafblind manual alphabet. The work that
Steven Hazelhurst the Technical Officer of Deafblind UK is doing with the
HASICOM is remarkable but it sadly lacks funding, and that is a great shame,
it would provide great assistants for Deafblind people all over the United
Kingdom.
InfoTouch,
InfoTouch is a communication system for deafblind braille readers. It is
called InfoTouch, because each of its three basic components has been modified
to work easily and effectively in an exclusively tactual environment. Messages
are typed in your choice of six-key braille or on a conventional QWERTY
keyboard and displayed in five seconds or less on the Romeo braille printer.
These same typed messages may either be seen on a 20 character LED display,
or transmitted by telephone through the Superprint TDD, which is a standard
part of the InfoTouch system. Presence of an incoming call is signaled
by a vibrating data detector, developed specially for the InfoTouch. InfoTouchs
three separate pieces connect together in seconds without special tools
or technicians. The Romeo braille printer and Superprint TDD come in convenient
carrying cases, while the vibrating data detector is housed in a box so
small it fits inside a shirt pocket. The Romeo braille printer will automatically
emboss data received from the TDD, with no need to wait until a full line
is received. The Romeos view key lets you move the paper and read the latest
line without paper jams or wasted space. With the direct connect feature,
the user can program a message into the TDD and leave the unit on. When
unattended, the machine will answer incoming calls with the message and
allow the caller to leave a braille message.
Kramer's
Talking Glove Project, James Kramer and his supervisor, Larry Leifer,
have been working on a method for communication between Deaf, Deafblind
and non-vocal individuals. It is a complete system, with attempts to integrate
a number of technologies together, in such a way that all parties can communicate
using the American one-handed fingerspelling alphabet. This system is still
under development.
Lite Touch Telephone Communicator, A smart new system designed
especially for deaf-blind users. A collaboration between Blazie Engineering
and Enabling Technologies has just produced the Lite Touch portable telephone
communicator. It's an exciting new system designed especially for people
who are deaf-blind. Lite Touch consists of three small products: the Braille
Lite personal data assistant, the UltraTec SuperPrint E modified TTY, and
a tiny signal detector. The products link together in seconds and operate
for hours at a time on internal batteries. Braille Lite and the TTY can
be separated easily and then operated by two people performing two different
tasks. Highly versatile Braille Lite lies at the heart of this superb communications
system. If you already own Braille Lite, simply purchase the Lite
Touch upgrade. Your Braille Lite is ready to integrate - it needs no modification
to function as part of Lite Touch. Telephone access for the Lite Touch
user is provided through a "smart" microprocessor that enables characters
sent from or received by the TTY to automatically scroll across Braille
Lite's 18-cell refreshable Braille display. The little signal detector,
about the size and shape of the average beeper, emits a strong vibration
when your telephone detects a ring, busy signal or audible indication that
the other party is speaking. Slipped into a pocket, its warning message
will engage attention without occupying your hands. Now for the bad
news, the Price of the Lite Touch Telephone Communicator. I think this
USA dollers.
L-TCH-UP (Upgrade-DOES NOT include Braille Lite) 1,300.00
Dollers.
Laser Cane N-8 The N-8 is a laser cane mobility aid designed
to assist blind or deafblind individuals. Two invisible light beams are
emitted from the cane. The high light is for head-height protection; the
second is directed forward for straight ahead information. When the light
beam strikes an object within range it is reflected back to a receiving
unit built into the cane. A vibrating unit signals the user’s index finger
and a high or low pitched sound is given off. N8 has a 12-foot range and
can also be used as a standard cane. The user may receive audible and tactile
warning simultaneously, or turn the sounds off. Rechargeable power source.
Weight: 1 lb (450g) Price: $2,650.00. The Laser Cane N-8 is made by Nurion
Industries.
Wheelchair Pathfinder Navigating device for wheelchairs and
scooters, consisting of a set of small rectangular boxes which mount to
the front of the mobility device. Lasers point downward while ultrasonic
beams are transmitted in front and to the side of the wheelchair. When
the beam contacts an object, it bounces back to a receiver, causing both
a tactile signal and an audible warning signal. The device has a range
of 8 feet (2.4m) forward, above head height or 4 feet (1.2m) when selected;
12 inches (30.48cm) to the side and 4 feet (1.2m) in front of a step, curb
or other dropoff. Ref: SFD-200 Price: $4,500.00 The Wheelchair Pathfinder
Navigating device is made by Nurion Industries
Polaron Lightweight, compact mobility aid for deafblind and
blind people. The unit utilizes ultrasonic technology to detect objects
within four, eight or sixteen feet. When an obstacle is within range, the
Polaron either vibrates or emits a sound. User selects either of these
with a small switch on the device. Other controls include the range switch
and the power switch. The unit allows the user to choose between hand-held
and chest-mounted positions. When in the chest mounted position, a miniaturized
vibrator located behind the neck in the neck strap indicates if there is
an obstacle. At 8 to 16 feet (2.4 to 4.8 metres), the vibration is steady;
within 8 feet (2.4 metres) it becomes more pronounced and within 4 feet
(1.2 metres) it is very intense. The unit requires a commercial alkaline
or rechargeable 9 volt battery. The sensor angle is adjustable for chest-mounted
use. Colour: black; Material: durable plastic housing. Length: 162mm Width:
275mm Height: 50mm Weight: 270g Ref: PN-2 Price: $892.00 The Polaron is
made by Nurion Industries
Nurion Industries
Station Square,
Building 2,
Paoli,
Pennsylvania 19301,
USA.
Tel: +1 610 640 2345
Fax: +1 610 647 2216
RALPH,
A fourth generation computer-controlled electromechanical fingerspelling
hand called Ralph ( for Robotic Alphabet ) has been developed at the Rehab
center. The device offers deaf-blind individuals improved access to computers
and communication devices in addition to person-to-person conversations.
SuperBraille 2000 Laptop from Evas. A 586 laptop computer,
refreshable Braille display and (optional) speech synthesis, can be connected
to another computer which can run or share its Braille display. And has
a Braille keyboard emulator. The full system contains a 40-cell Braille
display, multimedia and speech options. the SuperBraille may be a good
laptop for use with a Deafblind person because of it's portability it may
help Deafblind people to communicate to non Deafblind Manual alphabet users
when out and about.
Screen Braille Communicator, This device makes it possible
for deaf-blind people to communicate with people who can see. The communication
works in both directions. The person who can see types a short text in,
the deaf-blind person can read this text in braille (with 1 braille cell
or 8 braille cells) and can answer via the braille keys. This answer will
be shown on a LCD display. In this way you can communicate with strange
people (for instant in a shop) without any fysical contact.
The screen braille communicator is very easy to use and very
simple to handle. Also people who are not used to computers can use this
device. The device is small and light and uses a rechargeble battery, so
it can be carried easely where ever you go. In holland the screen braille
communicator is almost four years in use by several people and they are
very satisfied about it. The screen braille communicator will be delivered
complete with cover, rechargeble batterie and charger.
SYNTHA-VOICE COMPUTERS,
SYNTHA-VOICE is a Research and Development Corporation whose mandate is
the design of Access Technology for the Blind, Deaf-Blind, or Learning
Disabled PC User. SYNTHA-VOICE was the first Company in the world to design
a Screen Review Program to provide full access to the graphical environment
of Microsoft Windows.
Tam is a light-weight sound monitor for profoundly Deaf people.
You can easily distinguish between everyday sounds such as the telephone
ringing, a door slam, etc. The information above was on their information
sheet which came with the device which I scand into my computer.
I will give you my description of TAM now, sometimes the
information which comes with these devices really don't give good descriptions.
Tam is a lightweight sound monitor for profoundly deaf people. You wear
the tam like a watch on your left wrist, it has a very thin wire which
is attached to the watch like band, and the other end of the wire is connected
to a small control box which you have clipped on to your jumper or inside
pocket. What does Tam do for me, Well the watch band on my wrist is a Vibrator
which gives me a clear firm vibration when a sound is quite near me, useful
for trying to cross a busy road, but if the road is a particular busy one
their of course will be quite a lot of noise around, then it's a waiting
game for someone to escort you across the road. Tam is also very useful
for wearing it indoors as well, it alerts you when someone enters the room,
or when they are trying to communicate to you, a very useful bit of equipment,
and one which I constantly use.
I really think this is a great little device, I honestly
would be lost in every way without my Tam. It gives me some independents
and that is very important to me. But one little draw back is that the
battery requires ten hours to charge it. But of course I have extra batteries
but still ten hours is a long charging time. here is the company information
where you can order Tam, this address is for the United Kingdom, I don't
know if they have offices anywhere else in the world.
Summit,
6 Key Hill Drive,
Hockley,
Birmingham,
B18 5NY.
England.
Tel 0121 554 6946
Fax 0121 523 8340
Telephoning with Deaf-blind people over the PC, The Award
winning Project "Telephoning with Deafblind people (also very useful for
only hearing-impaired persons) over the PC". With the aid of Ulrich Greve's
project, a Deafblind person can telephone with a sighted hearing person
with the computer, the specially developed software (chooseable with a
DOS or Windows program) and modem. With a vibration signaling unit at the
deafblind person or optionally at the sighted hearing persons PC speaker,
a call is signaled - in the Windows version e.g. also during working with
a word processor. The simplicity of the user interface (DOS/Windows) makes
it possible that the programs can be also operated with a Refreshable Braille
Display. After the telephone connection is established, both interlocutors
can, e.g. in the Windows version, communicate with each other with a window,
which is divided into two parts. In the one part, the whole conversation
is shown, and in the second part the partner writes the text which he wants
to send to the other interlocutor. The program offers several setting possibilities,
e.g. of the modem, how should the telephone call be signalled (vibrator/PC
speaker) or the language of the user interface, which is German or English.
The Deafblind or deaf can multiply their very restricted communication
facilities enormously, e.g. by equipping relatives, acquaintances or authorities,
who have a PC with a modem, with the software, or connect the software
with a notebook computer (also with a Refreshable Braille Display), PCMCIA
modem and a wireless telephone.
In 1998, this project was Awarded a prize by the Christoffel
Blindenmission which tries to help blind and other disabled people (independently
of their religion) internationally.
The programs are free of charge. If you are interested in
them, you can request the programs for $10 US dollars expenses from Ulrich
Greve, or download as a compressed file (ZIP format) (size of the DOS version:
about 30 KB, size of the Windows version, about 90 KB). If you want to
download the programs, please send Ulrich Greve, a message, then he will
give you the address for downloading the software, And if required, also
an address where you can find an unpacking program for files in the ZIP
format.
Contact address.
Ulrich Greve,
Birkenfelder Str. 12,
D-75180 Pforzheim,
Germany.
E-Mail Ulrich Greve
at, blindsoftware@tichnut.de. For more information about the Telephoning
with Deafblind people software visit, Telephoning with Deaf-blind people
over the PC. This site is available in two languages.
Tellatouch, This device is portable and weighs less than
four pounds. It consists of a small typewriter keyboard
which the interpreter uses to pass on information. The deafblind person
sits opposite the typist and places a finger on a small Braille "screen".
Each letter that is typed appears briefly under the finger of the deafblind
person. The letter can be felt as long as the typist holds down the
key. Only one letter can be felt at a time. Fifty words per
minute is probably the maximum speed of the device. The chief advantage
of the Tellatouch is that it allows people who have no specialized training
to communicate quickly with the deafblind. Communications devices, The
American Foundation for the Blind, 15 West 16th Street, New York, New York.
10011 212-620-2000 or 800-232-5463. Distributes the Tellatouch.
THE
TOUCHING SOLUTION TO MEDICATION INDEPENDENCE FOR DEAF-BLIND INDIVIDUALS:
A VIBRO-TACTILE, MULTI-ALARM, WEARABLE MEDICATION REMINDER. There are some
devices on the commercial market which can remind people when to do something,
and some even target the medication-taking issue. These devices, however,
are not usable by deaf-blind persons for two reasons: (1) they require
vision to set the alarm times, and (2) they require hearing to detect the
alarms.
The
Royal National Institute for the Blind, (RNIB) Publishes a small catalog
which has a couple of products for deafblind people, they are mostly vibrating
alarms, and the Tactiwatch. I will try and give you a detailed description
of the products on this page. All of the products below can be ordered
from the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB). They have products
which have been specially designed or adapted for Deafblind people. they
have an excellent web site where you can read more about these products
in perhaps more greater detail, than I have given you here on Deafblind
Link, the hyper Link to their catalog page is above.
Vibrating Products,
Vibrating Doorbell, This doorbell is portable and wirefree.
When the round button on the transmitter is pressed, the receiver picks
up the radio signal and vibrates. The waterproof transmitter can be fixed
to a doorpost, as in a conventional doorbell system, or left portable to
act as a pager. Each doorbell system is automatically coded when the unit
is powered up. This code ensures reliable operation and eliminates false
ringing. It also means that neighbouring systems will not operate each
other. The doorbell comes complete with screws for fastening the transmitter.
A D-type ring is provided on the receiver for attachment to belts, etc.
This unit may require the assistance of a sighted helper to install it.
Range: 50 metres. Positioning the receiver or transmitter close to large
metal objects can reduce the operating range.
Liquid Level Indicator, Designed to enable visually impaired
people to tell when they have poured sufficient liquid into a cup, glass
or other container, the device detects two different levels of liquid:
an intermittent tone and vibration indicates that the cup is nearly full,
while a continuous tone and vibration indicates it is full. The unit is
water resistant and can be cleaned under a tap. I use a Vibrating Liquid
level indicator myself to make a cup of Tea, it certainly saves the finger's
getting burnt when trying to judge this yourself. An excellent little machine
and know Deafblind person should be without one.
Vibratory Light Probe, Designed by the RNIB, the light probe
has the ability to detect the presence of light directly from a light source.
It is particularly useful for deafblind people as the user receives feedback
by means of a vibratory signal which changes frequency according to the
change in light intensity. It can be used to tell if an electric light
is on, for example, or to check the status of indicator lights on some
equipment such as cookers, videos and not forgetting the computer. It is
a self-contained unit which is powered by a readily available 9 volt PP3
battery.
Audible Room Thermometer, This unit can be wall-mounted and
measures temperatures between -5ø and +35øC (23øand
95øF). It operates by moving a pointer to a position where a tone
is heard and vibrations can also be felt. The ambient room temperature
can then be obtained by reading off the scale. It is marked with tactile
dots and large print.
Vibrating Alarms and Watch,
Sarabec Vibrating Alarm, This alarm, especially suitable
for use by a deafblind person, will vibrate when the alarm rings and is
supplied with a quartz alarm clock and a 9 volt PP3 battery.
Sentinel Vibrating Alarm, This alarm with a vibrator and
a mains adaptor is designed specifically for deafblind people and vibrates
when an alarm, door bell or telephone rings. It can be used with the quartz
alarm clock which you can order separately from the RNIB. The item is supplied
with 4 AA batteries.
Tactiwatch, This hand-held watch is specifically designed
for deafblind people. To tell the time, the watch emits pulses of varying
duration which vibrate the unit, short pulses for hours, long pulses for
tens of minutes and short pulses for minutes. Once set, the time is read
by pressing the recessed switch on the top of the unit. I have a Tactiwatch
myself and find it a great little device, but you can't set the alarm on
it, that's the only little drawback about this little handy watch.
The
Vuphonics Home Page."Vuphonics" is an experimental sensory-substitution
system that is being developed for use by blind and deafblind people, and
this site describes "work-in-progress". The Vuphonics system highlights
the features of visual images that are normally perceived categorically,
by substituting with coded sound effects and their tactile equivalents.
It attempts to reproduce the "instant recognition" of objects and properties
that occurs in visual perception, by using the near-instantaneous recognition
of phoneme sounds that occurs in speech. By listening to coded phonetic
sounds (and feeling corresponding tactile/braille effects), the user can
instantly understand the colours, textures, distances and "identified objects"
that are present in an image. The non-categorical details are filled in
via variations in volume, to produce a "texture" effect. The system also
conveys shape, location, "change", and, where possible, recognised objects.
I am not sure about this myself but I thought it may be of interest to
others so I have added it on the equipment Page.
Ultratec, Inc.
Manufactures A Large Visual Display, for TTY users who are visually
impaired. This bright display magnifies the characters in every TTY conversation,
making each word large, clear and easy to read. Characters magnified on
the Large Visual Display appear ten times larger than characters on a standard
TTY display. The Large Visual Display connects to an external port on the
SUPERPRINT 4425A (with ASCII). The port, which could also be used for an
external printer, must be ordered when purchasing the TTY. You can use
the built-in printer on the SUPERPRINT 4425A at the same time you are using
the Large Visual Display. This lets you adjust the print style to bold
or wide giving you a record of the conversation when you are finished.
Your conversation is shown on both the TTY display and on the Large Visual
Display. A variety of lens colors are available. This particular page of
Ultratec is sadly a framed one, I certainly had trouble with it, but you
will find interesting information here for Deafblind people who may have
some remaining vision.