News: Imaging
Scientists invent 'seeing-eye' fingertips
16.01.2009
Technology can boost the other senses in the absence of sight, and scientists George Stetten and Roberta Klatzky from the University of Pittsburgh in the US have patented a technology called FingerSight, which, when attached to the fingertip, has the potential to sense or see its environment almost like an electronic eye.
In general, synthetic vision is any kind of technology that helps the blind or visually impaired to see without actually seeing - using other sensory input that can compensate for vision.
For example, rather than seeing obstacles in your path, a walking cane with ultrasonic snesors such as the GuideCane sends out sonic pulses and from this calculates the distance of objects.
The resulting calculations are used to create a map inside the computer of the GuideCane, which then rotates on its wheels and guides the user past obstacles.
However, up until now no such sensor has been so small and with the ability to attach to the fingertips.
In their paper on the potential of FingerSight technology, the authors say that it "allows users to both actively interrogate and sense the real 3D environment, and to manipulate specific aspects of the environment by gesture".
Each finger fitted with this small device can individually sense and analyze visual information so the movements of the finger, wrist and arm in effect replace that of head and eye movements - giving your fingers sight.
While this has been pure research up until now, bioengineer Stetten has just filed a patent for the technology according to New Scientist, meaning that this revolutionary device is perhaps only a couple of years away from market.
The real use of FingerSight comes into view when compared with exisiting technologies like GPS-devices or the white (sonic) cane, as Stetten explains that these are only of use for general navigation, but not if you want to find a cup of coffee on the countertop or fix a crookedly-hung picture.
Because voice or audio feedback might be disturbing to the person wearing the device, Stetten and his colleagues have been looking at haptic feedback - the same as used in touch-screen technology. A vibration or buzz from the device might warn the wearer of an object of table corner and prompt them where to reach out.
Depending on the length or intensity of the haptic feedback the user could learn to feel their visual environment - perhaps more pressure would indicate approaching an object or different intensity would indicate different angles or shapes.
By Marie Boran
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