Tactile-type color communication device for the purpose of daily use by the visually impaired

• Project/Area Number: 16K13592
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Special needs education
• Research Institution: Ibaraki University
• Principal Investigator: SAKAKI MAMORU 茨城大学, 教育学部, 教授 (50196060)
• Research Collaborator: Hiranuma Seiich ; Sasaki Atsushi
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,250,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥750,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
• Keywords: 視覚障害 / 色認識 / 社会福祉関係

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research developed a tactile-type color communication device for the purpose of daily use by the visually impaired.
The device can communicate processes of subtle change in color and differences of color depth in science experiments etc. It was built from a color sensor, a one-chip microcomputer, and mechanism components for expression of color. We devised an algorithm for converting digital data from the color sensor into frequency signals for output to a servo motor or vibration speaker.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の目的は，盲学校における理科の授業および視覚障害者の日常での使用を目的とした「触覚タイプ色彩伝達装置」を開発することにある。本開発装置は市販されている「音声式の色認識装置」では使用困難な理科実験における色の微妙な変化過程や色の濃さの違いを伝達する装置である。さらに，本装置は視覚と聴覚の重複障害者へ色を伝達する生活支援装置としての有用性も期待できる。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Computer Hard Disk Drive Transforms into the Bone Conduction Speakers (2016)
  • Author(s): S.Hiranuma, A.Sasaki, M. Sakaki
  • Journal Title: Hands-on The Heart of Science Education Volume: - Pages: 47-48
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] 視覚障害者の自立を支援するスタンドアローン型色識別装置の開発 (2017)
  • Author(s): 佐々木敦,佐藤英樹，清田公保，榊 守
  • Organizer: 日本福祉工学会第２回九州支部大会
• [Presentation] 視覚障がい者用光プローブの開発 (2016)
  • Author(s): 平沼誠一，金田幸裕，榊 守
  • Organizer: 精密工学会秋季大会学術講演会
  • Place of Presentation: 茨城大学
  • Year and Date: 2016-09-06
• [Presentation] Computer Hard Disk Drive Transforms into the Bone Conduction Speakers (2016)
  • Author(s): S. Hiranuma, A. Sasaki, M. Sakaki
  • Organizer: HSCI2016 The Hands-on Science Network
  • Place of Presentation: チェコ ブルノ
  • Year and Date: 2016-07-18
  • Int'l Joint Research