WO2006096026A1

WO2006096026A1 - Computer for the blind

Info

Publication number: WO2006096026A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/000848
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young Ho Jun
Original assignee: Goldenkey Information Technology Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-03-11
Filing date: 2006-03-09
Publication date: 2006-09-14
Also published as: KR100606406B1

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a computer for the blind. The computer includes a display lattice part, an auxiliary button part, a coordinate conversion unit, and a voice output unit. The display lattice part is located on a touch panel that generates coordinate signals corresponding to a point touched by a user, and is configured such that quadrangle lattice cells having a predetermined arrangement are formed, and buttons on which sequentially increasing Braille numbers are marked are arranged in the respective lattice cells. The auxiliary button part includes buttons for moving a cell cursor for performing a current task to an upward, downward, leftward or rightward lattice cell of the lattice cells, and an enter key button for allowing the user to select a lattice cell for the cell cursor. The coordinate conversion unit converts a lattice cell, which contains a touched point, into the cell cursor when the user touches the touch panel. The voice output unit outputs the menu of a program or content of an information corresponding to a changed location in voice form when the location of the cell cursor is changed.

Description

COMPUTER FOR THE BLIND

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a computer for the blind and, more particularly, to a computer for the blind, which is provided with a touch panel on which Braille buttons for various numbers and codes with function buttons are disposed, and allows the blind to easily execute programs or to search and input infomations by using the Braille buttons and computer mouse. Background Art

[2] A touch panel system is a system that generates information about coordinates corresponding to pressed points when users press the surface thereof using pens or fingers in order to allow the users to easily input information through a screen.

[3] FlG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional touch panel system including a Liquid

Crystal Display (LCD) device. Referring to FlG. 1, the touch panel system includes a touch panel 10 configured to output coordinate signals corresponding to touched points and to have a liquid crystal panel 8, a touch panel controller 30 for controlling the operation of the touch panel 10, calculating coordinate values based on the coordinate signals provided from the touch panel 10, and outputting the calculated coordinate values to a system, and the system for executing corresponding commands in response to the coordinate values provided from the touch panel controller 30.

[4] The touch panel 10 includes an upper film 12 on which a first transparent conductive layer 14 is formed, and a lower substrate 16 on which a second transparent conductive layer 18 is formed and which is spaced apart from the upper film 12. The touch panel 10 further includes X electrode bars 15 connected to both X-axis sides of the first transparent conductive film 14 of the first transparent conductive film 14, and Y electrode bars 19 connected to both Y-axis sides of the second transparent conductive film 18 of the second transparent conductive film 18. When the upper film 12 is pressed using a pen (or a finger) and, thereby, the first transparent conductive layer 14 comes into contact with the second transparent conductive layer 18, the touch panel 10 causes a resistance value to vary depending on a touched point. Thereafter, since current or voltage varies with the changed resistance value, the touch panel 10 outputs the changed current or voltage as an X-axis coordinate signal through a second X electrode bar 15B connected to the first transparent conductive layer 14, and outputs the varied current or voltage as a Y-axis coordinate signal through a second Y electrode bar 19B connected to the second transparent conductive layer 18. Thereafter, the touch panel controller 30 calculates a coordinate value based on X-axis and Y-axis coordinate signals corresponding to the touched point provided from the touch panel 10, and provides the calculated coordinate value to the system.

[5] For this purpose, the touch panel controller 30 includes an analog-to-digital converter (hereinafter abbreviated as an "ADC") 32 for converting the X-axis and Y- axis coordinate signals, which are provided from the touch panel 10, into digital data, a microcomputer 34 for calculating the coordinate value based on a combination of X- axis coordinate data and Y-axis coordinate data that are provided from the ADC 32 and outputting the calculated coordinate value to the system 40, and an interface unit 36 for providing the coordinate value, which is provided from the microcomputer 34, to the system 40 by relaying it.

[6] The operation of the touch panel 10 is conducted in such a manner that corresponding information is screen displayed on a display area "A" when a user clicks a button of menu display area "B" to which a picture having a previously printed menu is attached, or touches the screen display area "A" that is displayed on the screen. However, the touch panel 10 can be utilized only while being viewed. That is, the blind cannot view either the menu, which is displayed on the screen display area "A," or the menu picture, that is, the menu display area "B," so that they do not know the functions of the menu or menu picture, therefore it is impossible for them to use the touch panel. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[7] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a computer for the blind, which is provided with a touch panel on which Braille buttons for various numbers and codes with function buttons are disposed, so that the the blind can easily execute programs or to search or input informations, by using the Braille buttons and computer mouse. Technical Solution

[8] In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a computer for the blind, including a display lattice part located on a touch panel that generates coordinate signals corresponding to a point touched by a user, and configured such that executable software or screen information is displayed thereon, quadrangle lattice cells having a predetermined arrangement are formed, and buttons on which sequentially increasing Braille numbers are marked are arranged in the respective lattice cells; an auxiliary button part including buttons for moving a cell cursor for performing a current task to an upward, downward, leftward or rightward lattice cell of the lattice cells, and an enter key button for allowing the user to select a lattice cell for the cell cursor; a coordinate conversion unit for converting a lattice cell, which contains a touched point, into the cell cursor when the user touches the touch panel; and a voice output unit for outputting the menu of a program or the content of an information corresponding to a changed location in voice form when the location of the cell cursor is changed.

[9] Furthermore, the computer may further include numeric buttons having numbers ranging from 1 to 9, a call button, and a call stop button, the numeric, call and call stop buttons being respectively located in numeric lattice cells having a 3x4 arrangement on the touch panel.

[10] Furthermore, the computer may further include a left button for selecting a cell for the cell cursor, a scroll button for scrolling a screen of the touch panel upward or downward, and a right button for displaying a menu corresponding to the cell cursor, the left, scroll and right buttons being located on the touch panel.

[11] The lattice cells have a 10x10 arrangement, and are respectively provided with the numeric Braille buttons having numbers ranging from 0 to 99.

[12] The buttons are partially or entirely made of transparent material, so that a picture displayed on the touch panel can be transmitted through the buttons. Advantageous Effects

[13] According to the present invention, the computer for the blind having the construction described above is effective in that it allows the blind to easily execute programs or to search and input informations by using the Braille buttons and computer mouse.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[14] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [15] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional touch panel system;

[16] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a touch panel to which a Braille panel for the blind is attached according to an embodiment of the present invention; [17] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a touch panel system to which a Braille panel for the blind according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached; and [18] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of using a computer with the Braille panel for the blind according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [19] An embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings below. [20] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a touch panel to which a Braille panel for the blind is attached according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the touch panel includes a display lattice part 41, an auxiliary button part 43, a keypad part 44 for an Internet telephone, and an input button part 42 for a mouse function. Part or all of the buttons are marked with Braille characters.

[21] The display lattice part 41 of the present embodiment is formed of lattice cells having a 10x10 arrangement, and numeric Braille buttons, on which Braille numbers ranging from 0 to 99 are marked, are disposed in the lattice part 41. The range of the Braille numbers may exceed the above-described range, and the increase of the range is advantageous in that increasingly detailed menu selection becomes possible. However, in the case where the number is configured to exceed a three-digit number beyond 99, the Braille characters are complicated, therefore the present embodiment adopts the above-described range.

[22] With reference to FlG. 2, the Braille number '0' is disposed on the leftmost end of a bottom row. In the same row, the Braille numbers sequentially increase in increments of one while moving towards the right, so that the Braille number '9' is disposed on the rightmost end of the bottom row. The Braille numbers increase in order moving upwards and, therefore, the Braille number '99' is disposed on the rightmost side of a top row.

[23] Meanwhile, generally, numeric Braille characters are divided into a portion indicating the fact that such characters are numbers and a portion indicating the corresponding number. In the present embodiment, the numeric Braille characters are marked on only the latter portion, so that space can be saved and a corresponding location can be rapidly perceived.

[24] Furthermore, a coordinate conversion unit 38 for performing an operation for determining which lattice coordinate, that is, which of the Braille numbers ranging from 0 to 99, corresponds to a touched point when a user touches the point on the touch panel, is further included. The lattice coordinates may be converted into cell cursors as needed. That is, when the user touches a button, that is, one of the display lattice cells, the lattice cell is converted into a cell cursor for performing a current task. The cell cursor performs a function identical to that of a cursor in general software or an activated menu bar. The coordinate conversion unit 38 can be provided in Firmware chip, software recorded in CD, etc,.

[25] The auxiliary button part 43 includes four arrow buttons for moving the cell cursor to upper, lower, leftward and rightward lattice cells, and an enter key button E for selecting a desired lattice cell after movement to a desired cell cursor.

[26] The keypad part 44 for an Internet telephone is composed of numeric buttons having numbers ranging from 1 to 9, a call button, and a call stop button, which are respectively located in numeric lattice cells having a 3x4 arrangement on the touch panel, and operates in conjunction with an Internet telephone program. [27] The input button part 42 for a mouse function is composed of a left button for selecting a lattice cell for the cell cursor, a scroll button for scrolling the screen of the touch panel upward or downward, and a right button for displaying a menu corresponding to the cell cursor.

[28] In the present embodiment, the buttons located on the touch panel are partially or entirely made of transparent material, so that a picture displayed on the touch panel is not obscured by the buttons.

[29] Furthermore, the above-described touch panel further include a voice output unit for issuing the menu of an execution program or the content of an information corresponding to the current cursor lattice in voice form or for issuing the menu of a program corresponding to a changed location in voice form when a user touches the lattice button or the location of the cell cursor is changed using the arrow buttons. The voice output unit generates a voice signal corresponding to the menu or content thereof and outputs it to the outside through a speaker.

[30] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a touch panel system to which the Braille panel for the blind is attached according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the Braille buttons are attached to the upper surface of the touch panel, so that the user can select a desired cell cursor or execute a desired program through the touch panel using the Braille buttons.

[31] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of using a computer with a Braille panel for the blind according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, when a user touches the touch panel using the Braille buttons located on the touch panel at step Sl 1, a lattice cell that contains the corresponding touched point is determined and the title of a program or the content of an information corresponding to the lattice cell is issued in a voice form at step S 12. Thereafter, the user allows the lattice cell to move to a desired lattice cell using the auxiliary button part at step S 13, selects a desired program or information at step S 14, and then executes the desired program or listens to the content of information by pressing the enter key E or by clicking the computer mouse.

[32] As described above, when a blind person selects a lattice cell using the numeric

Braille buttons located on the touch panel, the menu of an executable program or the content of an information corresponding to the location of the lattice cell can be executed.

[33] Generally, the blind don't use the computer mouse because they can't see where the cursor is located. With this invention, the blind can use a computer more effectively because of their finger's navigation on the Braille touch panel sereen by using the Braille buttons and computer mouse.

[34] The above-described touch panel allows the blind to perceive Braille using their hands, so that it is preferred that a support be designed such that the touch panel can be laid down horizontally. Accordingly, it is preferred that the support, which enables adjustment of a panel angle, move from 0 to 90 degrees from a vertical direction.

[35] Furthermore, in a computer to which the above-described touch panel is applied, a biometrics device may be provided at a side end portion of the touch panel. In this case, a card insertion unit is provided such that a smart card can be easily inserted therein, so that only a user who has been registered in advance can use the touch panel, therefore, security can be managed. Industrial Applicability

[36] The computer for the blind having the construction described above, is effective in that it allows the blind to easily select the program menus or enable the information to search or in put by means of the use of the computer mouse.

[37] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

[1] A computer for the blind, comprising: a display lattice part located on a touch panel that generates coordinate signals corresponding to a point touched by a user, and configured such that executable software or screen information is displayed thereon, quadrangle lattice cells having a predetermined arrangement are formed, and buttons on which sequentially increasing Braille numbers are marked are arranged in the respective lattice cells; an auxiliary button part comprising buttons for moving a cell cursor for performing a current task to an upward, downward, leftward or rightward lattice cell of the lattice cells, and an enter key button for allowing the user to select a lattice cell for the cell cursor; a coordinate conversion unit for converting a lattice cell, which contains a touched point, into the cell cursor when the user touches the touch panel; and a voice output unit for outputting a menu of a program or the content of an information corresponding to a changed location in voice form when a location of the cell cursor is changed.

[2] The computer for the blind according to claim 1, further comprising numeric buttons having numbers ranging from 1 to 9, a call button, and a call stop button, the numeric, call and call stop buttons being respectively located in numeric lattice cells having a 3x4 arrangement on the touch panel.

[3] The computer for the blind according to claim 1, further comprising a left button for selecting a cell for the cell cursor, a scroll button for scrolling a screen of the touch panel upward or downward, and a right button for displaying a menu corresponding to the cell cursor, the left, scroll and right buttons being located on the touch panel.

[4] The computer for the blind according to claim 1, wherein the lattice cells have a

10x10 arrangement, and are respectively provided with the numeric Braille buttons having numbers ranging from 0 to 99.

[5] The computer for the blind according to claim 1, wherein the buttons are partially or entirely made of transparent material, so that a picture displayed on the touch panel can be transmitted through the buttons.

[6] The computer for the blind according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel is configured such that an angle of inclination thereof is adjusted within a range from 0 to 90 degrees from a vertical direction.