Transmitting Information Via the Sense of Touch: NHK Researchers Create a New Hope For the Visually Impaired
NHK, Japan’s public service broadcasting corporation, has created a technology which offers hope to the visually impaired by making use of the sense of touch in relaying information to the brain. The technology promises to be able to recreate the sense of touching an object with your fingers or hands despite the object not actually existing in the real world. It is a technology that could endow the visually impaired with a much higher degree of sensual richness.
As to how it works, NHK explains that first it is necessary to make use of five specially developed “stimulation points” that are placed on the tip of the finger. Through applying force to the five points, it is possible to recreate the feeling that you’re actually coming into contact with a physical object that exists within your surroundings. Up until now, equipment was limited to just one stimulation point on the finger tip which considerably restricted the level of precision and sensation experienced. However, by increasing the number of stimulation points as researchers have done with this technology, it is possible to create the sense that the wearer is tracing the outline of an object with their hand, despite the object not actually existing.
The results of the research are due to go on show to the Japanese public at NHK’s broadcasting technology research center from May 30 to June 2 2013.
Source: Gizmodo Japan
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