Using virtual touch to "see" objects

Researchers at Arizona State University are developing technology that will allow the blind and visually impiared to to use their sense of touch to "see" distant objects or onces that can't be touched, such as artifacts or artwork.

Called a haptic interface, the gloves, developed by the scientists at the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing (or CUbIC), create a virtual object that the wearere can feel just seconds after a spoken or gestured command.

The researchers at CUbIC designed the gloves as part of a flagship project called iCARE, and acronym for Information technology Centric Assistive and Rehabilitative Environment. The goal of iCARE is to create devices that assist the visually impaired with aspects of life such as studying, recognizing friends and family, visiting museums and shopping in stores.

In addition to the gloves, researchers have also created a pair of sunglasses with a camera embedded in the nose peice and a speaker in the strap that will tell a visually impaired person if someone familiar is approaching. The glasses look just like regular Oakleys or Ray-Bans.

Researchers hope to develop technology for the glasses which will not only recognize a familiar person, but give the wearer insight into their emotional state and details such as if they have had a haircut or changed their hair color. CUbiC is also proposing radio frequency identification tags for retail outlets that would transmit information about the product and price to a PalmPilot like device that the visually impaired shopper can carry.

You can read more about the research at CUbic here.