A study on the signalization of electric current perception for recognition of interpersonal distance in people with blindness

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K02712
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 09060:Special needs education-related
• Research Institution: Gunma Paz University
• Principal Investigator: Kimura Akira 群馬パース大学, リハビリテーション学部, 教授 (20367585)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 失明者 / 電流印加 / 心因性発汗 / 通電信号情報 / 危険回避 / 生体インピーダンス / ドライブ現象 / 吸湿性材料

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In blind people, the corona disaster caused difficulties in coping with physical distance. A system was developed to recognise interpersonal proximity by creating a signal using an infra-red sensor and low-frequency electric current to the skin. The weakness that hindered their practicality was found to be that "sudden changes in skin potential caused by psychological pressure, such as being rushed", resulted in a series of discontinuous strikes with short intervals that were difficult to decipher. The problem of sweating was solved by using electrodes with hygroscopic material in the electrodes, after it was found that the impedance changes caused by sweating in the energised areas of the forearm and palms were the cause. However, the problem was that the energising signal with electrodes containing hygroscopic material caused a latency in the reaction time.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

電気を通して合図を送る装置を失明された人に使ってもらうと、心理的・生理的緊張に伴って急に通電信号のモールス信号がわからなくなる場合があります。この原因はわかっていませんでした。そこで、汗が関係していると見積もって、汗を吸い取る電極を用いることでこの現象が変化することを確かめました。ただ、この電極には反応時間が遅延するという弱点があることが判明しました。この弱点を克服すれば視覚や、聴覚に障害のある子どもから成人、高齢者に至る人々の安全な行動を助けることができます。このような通電信号を感じ取り判断するという知覚と認識の性能を高める装置の改良によって実用性が飛躍的に増えるものとなるでしょう。