[Nfb-science] STEM Accessibility Research

Mon Jun 25 19:46:24 UTC 2012

What's the time needed and cost of manufacture for 3-D Proto-typing? 
Would it be practible for course work?  I'm not familiar with circuts, 
but I'm wondering if you'd be better off getting wires and creating your 
own diagrams?

On 6/25/2012 12:00 PM, David Evans wrote:
>
> Dear Hayden and step,
>
> I have long thought about the use of 3-D Proto-typing to produce 
> tactile models of objects to help a blind person understand the 
> physical shape and layout of things.
> I even have a adjustable wrench that was made by this process that was 
> made using the process and comes assembled and you can adjust the jaw 
> of the wrench open and closed with the thumb screw, but no one had to 
> assemble it as the process left spaces in the unit, as it was built up 
> layer on layer to the point it was finished, but left the parts so 
> they could move freely.
> Rapid 3-D Proto-typing is a process where a object is rendered in the 
> computer using a tech drawing, photo or digital image.  Then the 
> software drives a special laser that shines into a vat of special 
> plastic chemicals and where the laser touches, the plastic hardens.
> Then the object is built up layer by layer.
> I have also seen objects such as aircraft and other objects made this 
> way.
>
> I also think that a panel , which can present a tactile drawing on it 
> in a manner such as a Braille display could be developed to show such 
> things as electrical schematics, piping layouts and even chemical 
> symbols, or the internal structures of a living cell and these 
> configurations would be very useful.
> I remember having to use colored gum balls and tooth picks to make the 
> chemical configurations of molecules and compounds to understand the 
> relationships of atoms joined to atoms back in school.
> We have so much more now than we did back in my college days.
>
> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
> Former Nuclear/Aerospace Materials Engineer
> Builder of the Lunar Rovers and the F-117 Stealth Fighter
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stephanie H. DeLuca" 
> <sjhhirst at gmail.com>
> To: "NFB Science and Engineering Division List" <nfb-science at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 1:05 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-science] STEM Accessibility Research
>
>
> Hi Hayden,
>
> This sounds really interesting.  I was wondering if you know anything 
> about
> using haptics, such as those used by engineers when they are doing 3D
> modeling?
>
> Touch-enabled 3D Model Design
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nLa40-YEDw
> ArtNova: Touch-Enabled 3D Model Design
> http://gamma.cs.unc.edu/ARTNOVA/artnova.pdf
>
> Interactive Haptic Rendering of High-Resolution Deformable Objects
> http://gamma.cs.unc.edu/HAPDEFO/downloads/gotgl-hcii07.pdf
>
> I think there is a lot of potential for using these technologies for
> teaching things in 3D to people who are blind/VI.  In my opinion, hap 
> tics
> and 3D printing is really going to change the availability of STEM 
> learning
> to the blind/VI.  I'm really excited about this!  Let me know how your
> project goes.  Are you going to write anything up for it?  For example, a
> paper or poster?
>
> In the field of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind.
>    ~Louis Pasteur, lecture 1854
>
>
> On Sun, Jun 24, 2012 at 11:20 PM, Hayden Dahmm <hwdahmm at live.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> Hello everyone,
>>
>> I’m a rising sophomore at Swarthmore College, where I intend to major in
>> Environmental Engineering.  Although I’ve been legally blind from 
>> birth, I
>> lost all functional vision only a year ago. I’m perfectly fine with this
>> change, but I’m still developing the techniques for accessing visual
>> content in my engineering courses.  Currently, assistants take lecture
>> notes, create tactile diagrams, and serve as scribes for problem sets.
>>  This has worked well enough, but I would appreciate any suggestions 
>> on how
>> I could increase my independence.
>>
>> Also, this summer, I’m researching in the Swarthmore Engineering
>> Department on ways of making STEM subjects more accessible to the blind,
>> with potential collaboration with labs at Drexel University and the
>> University of Pennsylvania.  Our work has three foci…
>>
>> 1.) Developing models specific to my fall classes.  For electrical
>> Engineering, we will use K’NEX to illustrate circuits.  For Chemistry 
>> and
>> Calc 3, we might use 3-D printing.
>> 2.) Studying/applying data sonification.  We plan to use quadraphonic
>> headphones paired with a joystick to interrogate spatial data using 
>> ChucK.
>> 3.) Developing refreshable, tactile displays.  We might try creating
>> embossed images with new Piezo actuators or a modernized version of the
>> Optacon.  As a short term solution, we also plan to work on an IOS 
>> app that
>> could take in a diagram and vibrate when the user's finger crosses a 
>> line.
>>
>> I would love to hear any thoughts you might have on my research 
>> topics.  I
>> would be glad to give more info if anyone is interested.
>>
>> Best regards,
>> Hayden
>> hwdahmm at live.com
>> 610-405-0098
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