Smart Interactive Tactile Interface Effecting Geographical Display for the Visually Impaired (ITACTI)

Principal researcher

Project details

Start date: 01/08/2001
End date: 31/01/2005

Description: A state-of-the-art interactive tactile interface peripheral will be developed to significantly improve the access of visually impaired persons to modern computer and Internet applications. The peripheral will display tactile diagrams and multi-line Braille, and touch sensitive feedback will be employed for the presentation of interactive documents. Advances in smart materials and their applications will be exploited to produce an array of multiple actuators. Interface and control systems will be developed to support this new technology, allowing connection to a generic IBM compatible PC clone. Software tools will be created to allow conversion of information to a form suitable for tactile display. The project will be conducted with continued feedback from visually impaired IT users and support organisations.

Other organisations involved in this project

Other project partners include Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania: Metec AG, Germany, Associazione Nazionale Subvedenti, Italy and subcontractors are RNIB, UK.

Particpants are Smart Technology Group Limited.

Funded by the European Commission.

Last updated: 14/04/2008