From texting on a smart phone to ordering train tickets at a kiosk, touch screens are ubiquitous and, in most cases, relatively reliable.
From texting on a smart phone to ordering train tickets at a kiosk, touch screens are ubiquitous and, in most cases, relatively reliable. But for people who are blind or visually impaired and use electronic braille devices, the technology can be vulnerable to the elements, easily broken or clogged by dirt, and difficult to repair.
By combining the design principles and materials of soft robotics with microscale combustions, Cornell researchers have now created a high-resolution electronic tactile display that is more robust than other haptic braille systems and can operate in messy, unpredictable environments.
The technology also has potential applications in teleoperation, automation and could bring more tactile experiences to virtual reality.
The research was published Aug. 27 in Science Robotics. The paper’s co-first authors are Ronald Heisser, Ph.D. ’23 and postdoctoral researcher Khoi Ly.
Read More: Cornell University
