Sile O'Modhrain

Sile O'Modhrain

Professor of Performing Arts Technology and Professor of Information at the University of Michigan

The Holy Braille

It has been over 30 years since there have been significant changes to the technology for creating Refreshable Braille displays. The existing piezoelectric cells are expensive and complex to manufacture, and cannot be packed tightly enough to create a full page of text. Nor are they suitable for creating tactile graphics. In this project, we take a completely new approach, using microfluidic techniques to both actuate and control bubbles to move individual braille dots. Our aim is to create a high-density refreshable tactile array at a much lower cost.

Watch Video of The Holy Braille

  • Morash, V.; Russomanno, A.; Gillespie, R. B.; and O’Modhrain, S. [2017]; “Evaluating approaches to rendering braille text on a high-density pin display,” IEEE Trans. Haptics, 2017.
  • A. Russomanno, Z. Xu, S. O’Modhrain, and R. B. Gillespie, [2017]; “A Pneu Shape Display: Physical Buttons with Programmable Touch Response,” in World Haptics Conference (WHC), 2017.
  • Russamanno, A.; O’Modhrain, S.; Gillespie, R.B.; Rodger, M.W.M., [2015]; “Refreshing Refreshable Braille Displays,” in Haptics, IEEE Transactions on , vol.8, no.3, pp.287-297, July-Sept. 1 Link to Publication
  • O’Modhrain, S.; Giudice, N.A.; Gardner, J.A.; Legge, G.E.,[2015]; “Designing Media for Visually-Impaired Users of Refreshable Touch Displays: Possibilities and Pitfalls,” in Haptics, IEEE Transactions on , vol.8, no.3, pp.248-257, July-Sept. 1 Link to Publication
  • Russamanno, A., Gillespie, R.B., O’Modhrain, S. and Burns, M. [2015];”The design of pressure-controlled valves for a refreshable tactile display,” in IEEE World Haptics Conference (WHC), Chicago, June . E. Link to Publication
  • Russamanno, A., Gillespie, R. B., O’Modhrain, S., and Barber, J., [2014]”Modeling Pneumatic Actuators for a Refreshable Tactile Display,” In proceedings: Eurohaptics (Versailles, France June 24-26) .Link to Publication
  • Russamanno, A., Gillespie, R. B., O’Modhrain, S., and Barber, J.,[2014] “A Tactile Display Using Pneumatic Membrane Actuators,” In proceedings: Eurohaptics (Versailles, France June 24-26).

People:

  • Alex Russamanno
  • Brent Gillespie
  • Mark Burns

Support: This project is funded by the National Science Foundation, NSF Award Id : 1319922