[NFBV-Announce] FW: haptics-driven Braille study for visually impaired at Old Dominion University

Thu Jan 23 16:47:29 UTC 2025

From: Austin Tapp <austinrtapp at gmail.com <mailto:austinrtapp at gmail.com> > 
Sent: Wednesday, 22 January 2025 10:17 pm
To: Mosen, Jonathan <jmosen at nfb.org <mailto:jmosen at nfb.org> >
Cc: Lewis, Anil <ALewis at nfb.org <mailto:ALewis at nfb.org> >; Audette, Michel A. <maudette at odu.edu <mailto:maudette at odu.edu> >; president at nfbv.org <mailto:president at nfbv.org> ; Walker, Bruce N <bruce.walker at psych.gatech.edu <mailto:bruce.walker at psych.gatech.edu> >; Bob Crockett <bob at haptx.com <mailto:bob at haptx.com> >
Subject: Re: haptics-driven Braille study for visually impaired at Old Dominion University

Hi Jonathan,

Could you kindly circulate the below message? Thanks for your help and support!

Best,

Austin

Hello, my name is Austin Tapp, and I’m reaching out on behalf of our research team at Old Dominion University regarding an NIH National Eye Institute-funded project. The project aims to gather feedback on our state-of-the-art electronic braille and haptic system, which are designed to revolutionize accessibility for the visually impaired community. This study leverages haptic feedback gloves embedded with Braille cell grids on the fingertips. Developed in collaboration with HaptX, a leader in haptic feedback technologies, this system combines advanced tactile actuation with digital Braille and graphical content to create a seamless and accessible experience.

We are looking for volunteers to participate in this study and share their insights. Participation involves testing the gloves, navigating virtual environments, and providing feedback on their experience. The study must be completed by January 31st, so please do not hesitate to contact us! If you know anyone who may be interested, or if you would like further information, please let me know by email at: austinrtapp at gmail.com <mailto:austinrtapp at gmail.com> .

Thank you for considering participating in our study. Your assistance will help us achieve meaningful advancements in accessibility technologies for the visually impaired community.

Best regards, 

Austin Tapp, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Researcher

and Michel Audette, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,

Graduate Program Director, Biomedical Engineering,

Old Dominion University,

Norfolk, VA.

maudette at odu.edu <mailto:maudette at odu.edu> ; office phone: 757-683-6940. 

On Wed, Jan 22, 2025 at 9:21 AM Mosen, Jonathan <jmosen at nfb.org <mailto:jmosen at nfb.org> > wrote:

Hello Austin, this technology does sound very interesting.

Dave Andrews maintains our NFBNet mailing lists, and if you could provide me with the text of what you’d like to distribute, I am happy to ask him to send it to relevant NFBNet lists.

Also, we have a technology podcast, Access On, where we sometimes communicate interesting items of news. Depending on your deadline, we could run it there as well.

Hope that helps.

Jonathan Mosen
Executive Director for Accessibility Excellence

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

410-659-9314, extension 2233 | jmosen at nfb.org <mailto:%20jmosen at nfb.org> 

  <https://nfb.org/> 

                          <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>      <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>      <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind> 

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.

From: Austin Tapp <austinrtapp at gmail.com <mailto:austinrtapp at gmail.com> > 
Sent: Tuesday, 21 January 2025 3:26 pm
To: Lewis, Anil <ALewis at nfb.org <mailto:ALewis at nfb.org> >
Cc: Audette, Michel A. <maudette at odu.edu <mailto:maudette at odu.edu> >; president at nfbv.org <mailto:president at nfbv.org> ; Walker, Bruce N <bruce.walker at psych.gatech.edu <mailto:bruce.walker at psych.gatech.edu> >; Bob Crockett <bob at haptx.com <mailto:bob at haptx.com> >; Mosen, Jonathan <jmosen at nfb.org <mailto:jmosen at nfb.org> >
Subject: Re: haptics-driven Braille study for visually impaired at Old Dominion University

Dear all,

Just a quick follow up on my last message. Is there any opportunity for us to send out a request for volunteers through a mailing list? Thanks for your support!

Best regards,

Austin Tapp

On Fri, Jan 17, 2025 at 7:47 PM Austin Tapp <austinrtapp at gmail.com <mailto:austinrtapp at gmail.com> > wrote:

Hi Anil, Tracy, and Jonathan,

I hope this email finds you well. Would it be possible for you to distribute a request for participation in the study Dr. Audette described in his previous emails? We are looking for a few volunteers to experience our state-of-the-art electronic braille/haptic system and give their feedback.

In short, the study uses haptic feedback gloves with braille cell grids embedded in the fingertips. When users navigate a virtual space, they can feel and read the content within that space via the gloves pushing certain braille cells into their fingertips. This is a project done in collaboration with an industry leader in haptic feedback, HaptX (https://haptx.com/) and we hope it will ultimately revolutionize accessibility for the visually impaired community.

If you have any questions or would like further information to pass on to potential volunteers, please let me know. We have until the 31st to conduct these studies, so the sooner we can reach out to participants, the better!

Thank you for your time and assistance,

Austin Tapp

On Mon, Jan 13, 2025 at 8:04 AM Lewis, Anil <ALewis at nfb.org <mailto:ALewis at nfb.org> > wrote:

It is probably best if you coordinate this directly with Tracy as NFB of Virginia president.  He probably has the ability to reach out to more blind people in Virginia. Of course, I would also be willing to assist if needed.

Also looping in Jonathan Mosen, our CENA executive director. He may also be able to provide some assistance.

Sincerely,

Anil

Mr. Anil Lewis, M.P.A.

Executive Director 

 National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute

(410) 659-9314 ext. 2374 (Voice)

From: Audette, Michel A. <maudette at odu.edu <mailto:maudette at odu.edu> > 
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2025 4:35 PM
To: Lewis, Anil <ALewis at nfb.org <mailto:ALewis at nfb.org> >
Cc: president at nfbv.org <mailto:president at nfbv.org> ; austinrtapp <austinrtapp at gmail.com <mailto:austinrtapp at gmail.com> >; Walker, Bruce N <bruce.walker at psych.gatech.edu <mailto:bruce.walker at psych.gatech.edu> >; Bob Crockett <bob at haptx.com <mailto:bob at haptx.com> >
Subject: Re: haptics-driven Braille study for visually impaired at Old Dominion University

Hi Anil, 

I neglected to mention my other collaborators, copied here. One of them is Bruce Walker of GA Tech, while the CEO of Haptx, which makes the gloves, is Bob Crockett. I had intended to copy everyone originally, but somehow mistyped your email address in the first email. I'm told that you and Bruce might know each other. 

Cheers, 

Michel

Michel Audette, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,

Graduate Program Director, Biomedical Engineering,

Old Dominion University,

Norfolk, VA.

maudette at odu.edu <mailto:maudette at odu.edu> ; office phone: 757-683-6940. 

  _____  

From: Audette, Michel A. <maudette at odu.edu <mailto:maudette at odu.edu> >
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2025 11:39 AM
To: Lewis, Anil <ALewis at nfb.org <mailto:ALewis at nfb.org> >
Cc: president at nfbv.org <mailto:president at nfbv.org>  <president at nfbv.org <mailto:president at nfbv.org> >; austinrtapp <austinrtapp at gmail.com <mailto:austinrtapp at gmail.com> >
Subject: Re: haptics-driven Braille study for visually impaired at Old Dominion University 

Hi Anil, 

Thanks for your kind reply. Yes, precisely. Around Hampton Roads specifically, which includes Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News area if possible. 

I am reachable by email or by phone (either my office number below or my cell 757 470 1279). I am copying my postdoctoral fellow, Austin Tapp. 

Best wishes, 

Michel

Michel Audette, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,

Graduate Program Director, Biomedical Engineering,

Old Dominion University,

Norfolk, VA.

maudette at odu.edu <mailto:maudette at odu.edu> ; office phone: 757-683-6940. 

  _____  

From: Lewis, Anil <ALewis at nfb.org <mailto:ALewis at nfb.org> >
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2025 9:43 AM
To: Audette, Michel A. <maudette at odu.edu <mailto:maudette at odu.edu> >
Cc: president at nfbv.org <mailto:president at nfbv.org>  <president at nfbv.org <mailto:president at nfbv.org> >
Subject: RE: haptics-driven Braille study for visually impaired at Old Dominion University 

EXTERNAL to ODU: This email is not from an ODU account. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Michel:

Looks like you are interested in recruiting people to participate locally. Does that mean in the Virginia area?

Anil

Mr. Anil Lewis, M.P.A.

Executive Director

 National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute

(410) 659-9314 ext. 2374 (Voice)

From: Audette, Michel A. <maudette at odu.edu <mailto:maudette at odu.edu> >
Sent: Friday, January 10, 2025 5:25 PM
To: Lewis, Anil <ALewis at nfb.org <mailto:ALewis at nfb.org> >
Cc: president at nfbv.org <mailto:president at nfbv.org> 
Subject: haptics-driven Braille study for visually impaired at Old Dominion University

Dear Mr Lewis, 

Your contact info was given to me just now by Tracy Soforenko of National of the Blind of Virginia. I reached out to him in order to help me recruit Braille readers locally, in conjunction with a project funded by National Eye Institute at National Institute of Health. 

My postdoctoral researcher Austin Tapp is developing software to drive the Braille streaming, which converts written lexical data from a digital source or website. We have something in mind for graphical data as well, as part of the same research, but currently we are concentrating on the lexical aspect: the Braille characters. 

To help you make a decision on the human subjects aspect, the proposal of this funded grant is included here. We are working with the Haptx company, which is supplying specially modified haptic gloves with tactile actuator ("tactor") patterns that support Braille characters. 

I'm reachable on the number below next week if you want to have a discussion on research details. Thanks for your consideration. Best wishes,

Michel Audette, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,

Graduate Program Director, Biomedical Engineering,

Old Dominion University,

Norfolk, VA.

 <mailto:maudette at odu.edu> maudette at odu.edu; office phone: 757-683-6940. 

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