RU2708107C1 - Tactile communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: computer equipment.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to computer engineering and can be used in devices for receiving and transmitting information in order to expand communication capabilities between people with visual and hearing impairments, as well as in situations when live communication and transmission of textual information are impossible. Invention objective is expansion of the existing solutions range. Technical result is achieved using a tactile communication system comprising a controller, wearable elements located on the human body and having tactile sensors for receiving information and combined buttons for transmitting information with symbols distributed thereon, corresponding to keys with symbols on the printing device and having the same arrangement.

EFFECT: implementing said assignment by separating text into separate characters corresponding to keys on a standard printing device and enabling unambiguous identification thereof on a human body for receiving and transmitting information.

7 cl, 1 dwg

Description

The invention relates to computer technology and can be used in devices for receiving and transmitting information with the aim of expanding the capabilities of communication between people with visual and hearing impairments, as well as in situations where live communication and transmission of textual information is impossible.

The solution to the problem of ensuring communication without using the organs of vision and hearing is relevant not only for people with congenital or acquired (illness, trauma, etc.) hearing and vision impairments, but also for healthy people as a backup communication channel, for example, in emergency situations, when lack of communication can cost a living, also in circumstances where a short-term loss of hearing and vision is possible (pressure drop, fire, illness, contusion, accident, injury, terrorist attack, etc.), or simply when communicating with one or another For various reasons, it is inconvenient or impossible (negotiations, press conference, combat situation, a diver at a depth, driving, etc.).

Known tactile communication systems that are based on the use of Braille (for example, RF patent No. 2651444, published April 19, 2018, US patent No. 2016018920, published January 21, 2016). Such systems contain a wearable element (bracelet, glove, etc.) that has sensors through which information is transmitted and transmitted using Braille.

The disadvantage of such systems is the difficulty of using and remembering the alphabet, the low speed of communication, especially the low speed of perception of information. Similar systems can be used for blind and deaf-blind people, in other cases their use is extremely inconvenient.

A tactile communication communication system is known (US Patent No. 2015154886, published June 4, 2015), comprising a processing unit located on the wrist, a tactile communication device located on the palm of your hand and having a standard alphanumeric or mobile phone keypad, where the keys can be made vibrating, while the first key corresponds to 1 or ABC, the second key corresponds to 2 or DEF, etc. When the user wants to enter a message starting with the letter “B”, he presses the first key twice.

The disadvantage of this system is also the insufficient speed of input and reception of information if the word consists of letters that are located on one key. In addition, part of the hand is occupied by elements of the system, which limits the functionality of the hand in everyday life.

A known tactile communication system (RF patent No. 2132565, published on June 27, 1999) containing an information processing unit located on the wrist, tactile elements located on the fingers, while tactile elements can be arranged in the order of the keys of a typewriter with vibration upon receipt of a signal.

In this case, the tactile elements in the form of typewriter keys are made small enough so that they can be placed on the fingers of the hand, which complicates the visual perception of the sensor letters. In this case, there is a difficulty in tactile identification of the letters of the received text, since the small distance between the sensor letters does not allow us to understand at which point of the finger the signal arrived. Also, such a system cannot be used to transmit information, since there is a high probability of hitting the wrong key and the occurrence of errors in a text message, especially in difficult situations. In addition, the brush and fingers are occupied by elements of the system, which limits their functionality in everyday life.

A well-known tactile communication system (US patent No. 198299960, published October 18, 2018), adopted as the closest analogue to the claimed system and containing a wearable device for tactile recognition of external text, which is divided into phonemes and distributed by the tactile sensors of the device, the device can be made in the form of several wearable elements on different parts of the body and contain on each element a predetermined number of tactile sensors (para. [0297] - [0304], FIG. 11I-11L).

The disadvantage of such a system is the difficulty of memorizing a large number of phonemes and their location. In case of confusion, the information received may be distorted. Moreover, the vocabulary by which information can be transmitted is limited.

The objective of the invention is to expand the arsenal of existing solutions.

The technical result of the invention is the implementation of this purpose by dividing the text into separate characters corresponding to the keys on a standard printing device, and providing the possibility of their unique identification on the human body for receiving and transmitting information.

The technical result is achieved using a tactile communication system containing a controller, wearable elements located on the human body and having tactile sensors for receiving information and buttons combined with them for transmitting information with the symbols distributed over them, corresponding to the keys with symbols on the printing device and having same location.

In particular, tactile sensors are vibrating, with a thermal effect, with backlight.

In particular, the distance between the tactile sensors must be at least 2

cm.

In particular, bracelets are used as wearable elements, which are placed on the human body (arm or leg).

In particular, a computer keyboard of a mobile device is used as a printing device.

In particular, buttons for transmitting information are located on top of each tactile sensor.

In particular, letters of the alphabet in any language, punctuation marks, numbers, mathematical signs are used as symbols. The use of punctuation marks, vowels, numbers and mathematical signs will be regulated for each national language, taking into account the opinions of the blind and deaf-deaf communities, as well as the conclusions of relevant institutions. It is also likely to use mathematical symbols using ordinary letters rather than numbers (for example, “Two plus three equals five”).

Depending on the characteristics of the national language and the number of letters in the alphabet, bracelets may contain 1-2 or more tactile sensors.

The claimed tactile communication system (Gerasimuk system), thanks to the parallel with the standard keyboard of the printing device, allows you to quickly and easily master the technique of working with the received “keyboard on the body”, uniquely identify the received text information, increase the speed of perception and speed of information transfer, which helps to improve communication of people in any difficult situations.

The figure shows a particular embodiment of the claimed system, which contains a controller (not shown), bracelets 1 located on the human body 2 and having vibrating tactile sensors 3 and buttons located on top of each tactile sensor 3 for transmitting information. At the same time, tactile sensors 3 and buttons for transmitting information contain symbols 4 distributed over them, corresponding to the keys with symbols on the printing device and having the same arrangement.

The controller can be located on one of the bracelets with tactile sensors, can be located on a separate bracelet.

Bracelets can be made of any elastic material with the possibility of fixing on the body or on a fabric basis with fasteners in the form of belts, Velcro, hooks, etc.

Tactile sensors are performed in any known manner, for example, in accordance with RF patent No. 2132565 using a vibration motor, which is used when pressing the keys of mobile devices.

On top of each tactile sensor with a symbol there is a button for transmitting information with the same symbol, thereby turning your hands into a kind of keyboard not only for perception, but also for transmitting text. Buttons for transmitting information can be made in the form of separate tangible elements like keys on the keyboard of a printing device or in the form of touch displays that respond to the touch of a finger.

The claimed system can be implemented in two versions:

1) in the form of a tight-fitting shirt (sports type or thermal underwear) with vibrating tactile sensors and buttons for transmitting information located on it, connected to the controller.

According to this scheme, a scuba diver's suit can be equipped, providing a stable connection under water.

2) in the form of elastic harnesses-belts, on which tactile sensors with buttons for transmitting information and a controller are fixed.

Here, in fact, 6 elastic bracelets are put on each arm and are evenly distributed over it. Vibrating tactile sensors with buttons for transmitting information reminiscent of the appearance of a ladies watch with a battery are evenly distributed on each bracelet. In this configuration, the product can be worn by man over light clothing in parts, like a watch, and used without loss of effectiveness.

The communication method when using the claimed system consists of receiving information and transmitting information.

Reception of information in text form is based on a person’s ability to determine with closed eyes the exact place of contact with his skin (with a distance between the points of contact of at least 2 cm). The computer keyboard in a simplified form is mentally superimposed on the hands or another part of the human body, while a certain point on the body corresponds to a certain symbol. By experience, the most optimal configuration of the location of the “keyboard on the body”, which is shown in the figure, was selected. Symbols on tactile sensors vibrate one after another, line up in certain words with spaces and sentences, conveying the necessary information to the person.

At the same time, tactile sensors with a vibration motor are connected to the controller, which allows receiving and converting information from the following sources into a series of vibration signals: another person’s voice through a speech recognition mechanism (possibly using gadgets), CMC messages, skype, electronic and paper books, text from computer text from photos through text recognition engine and other sources. That is, the claimed Gerasimuk system is adapted with a computer and a smartphone, ensuring the versatility of its application.

Information is transmitted using buttons with symbols similar to the symbols on tactile elements, with which each of them is combined. As a result, the buttons for transmitting information have the same arrangement as the keys on a regular keyboard. They are also connected to a controller that allows you to receive signals and transmit them further to the addressee.

Additionally, information can be transmitted by voice.

Tactile sensors with symbols and buttons for transmitting information can be luminous, which facilitates the learning and communication process, especially with disabled users. They can also cause a thermal effect or use another tangible type of effect on the skin.

The system may be wired or wireless. The wireless system has a greater degree of convenience for the user, since it does not in any way constrain movement and does not cause discomfort. Moreover, for the transmission of information there is no need to additionally carry a printing device.

The system can be optionally equipped with a separate keyboard, tablet-badge or tablet-kokoshnik (cap-cap, earflaps, etc.) with a microphone and speaker if necessary.

The Pause tactile sensor can be located separately as a pendant on the neck or at another point in the body that is comfortable for humans.

The arrangement of characters on wearable elements can be performed in any language, including using the Hebrew alphabet, Arabic script, hieroglyphs, and other spelling variants using the keyboard layout traditional for each language.

The arrangement of tactile sensors can be changed taking into account the physiological characteristics of the end user. For example, part of the letters may not be placed on the hands, but on the feet.

The teaching methodology is divided into three main areas: teaching healthy people, teaching people who were previously able to read and write on the keyboard, learning deaf-blind from birth.

A healthy person in the process of learning to read first slowly perceives each letter and slowly puts them into words. Then, the speed of perception grows, and the student can read texts at the speed of ordinary reading or even faster. Subsequently, a person perceives a word as a single block by analogy with a hieroglyph.

Training a person who has lost sight and hearing, but who previously knew how to read, is similar to teaching a healthy person, but takes a longer time.

The simplification of previously existing methods, including training for the deaf-blind from birth, consists in the fact that at least two stages can be removed, including training in Braille.

The unique difference of the Gerasimuk system in teaching deaf-blind children to speaking (reading and writing) is not only that with their free hands children easily study objects by touch, immediately receiving information about their name by letters through the sensor system, but they can also “ask »This item by sending information by pressing the fingers of one hand on the sensor buttons located on the bracelets of the other hand.

A significant advantage of the Gerasimuk system is that you can start communication from a very young age. In this case, the child will begin to understand the words by analogy with a healthy child with whom parents are talking. Also in adulthood, the use of the Gerasimuk system can serve as a serious prevention of various diseases, such as senile dementia and other psychological and psychiatric pathologies of an age-related nature.

In addition, the hands and palms remain free for any action, without violating the usual everyday lifestyle of a person, including during professional activities (diver, massage therapist or psychotherapist on Skype).

Claims (7)

1. A tactile communication system, characterized in that it contains a controller, wearable elements located on the human body and having tactile sensors for receiving information and buttons combined with them for transmitting information with the symbols distributed over them, corresponding to the symbol keys on the printing device, and having the same location. 2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the tactile sensors are vibrating, with a thermal effect, with backlight. 3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance between the tactile sensors must be at least 2 cm. 4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that bracelets that are placed on the human body are used as wearable elements. 5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the keyboard of the computer or mobile device is used as the printing device. 6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the buttons for transmitting information are located on top of each tactile sensor. 7. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the letters of the alphabet in any language, punctuation marks, numbers, mathematical signs are used as symbols.

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