Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!uunet!sun-barr!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!usc!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!destroyer!ubc-cs!newsserver.sfu.ca!sfu.ca!kkoehn
From: kkoehn@fraser.sfu.ca (Kaari David Koehn)
Subject: micro-plungers
Message-ID: <kkoehn.711581003@sfu.ca>
Summary: seeking plunger ideas
Keywords: blind Braille compressed robots
Sender: news@sfu.ca
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1992 21:23:23 GMT
Lines: 16

For a possible challenge project, I'm thinking of a
display device for the blind.  
Don't laugh: my concept is a grid of small plungers that can be
raised and lowered via computer control to show readable braille.

My hopes are to get a mac keyboard in braille with, maybe, a
hypercard front end to show the text (choices, input, etc) being 
output to the display.

So far, the best ideas i'm working on involve some compressed-air system, 
electronically controlled (relay gate valves? are there such things?)
and a locking grid panel to hold the display static while it is read.
Any rumors, information, and patent ideas appreciated.

Kaari Koehn kkoehn@sfu.ca

