[Nfb-science] blind radiologist

Fri Dec 16 13:16:02 UTC 2011

Hello Nikhil:

     I am writing in response to your note. I have read three of the other replies. There is a company, SensAble Technologies that sells a product known as the Phantom arm. This device is intended to feel and manipulate virtual objects in 3d space. It is certainly possible to feel 3d objects. The user holds either a pen shaped device or inserts their finger into a "thimble". The pen or thimble is connected to a set of jointed arms somewhat like a desk lamp. The joints are equipped with resolvers and stepping motors which allow the user to feel an object. The Phantom arm is used in CADCAM applications, so this is a tried and true product and has been around for well over a decade. I think a system is in the $6,000 to $10,000 range. There are some very small scale ystems for less. We need to get our hands on one of these systems and do some research. From what I know, I am guessing that some JAWS scripts will be needed. I am reasonably certain that software exists to convert MRI data into a form that the Phantom can deal with. Some surgeons already use MRI and CatScan data to produce 3d models. These models are used to rehearse complex operations. 

     As for producing x-ray or MRI images in a tactile form, various technologies already exist. With the exception of the Roland LEC printer, capsule paper or the Tiger, they are slow. It would take hours to render an MRI image into a 3d model. A radiologist has to work faster in order to be productive. The various technologies are also not inexpensive. The Phantom Arm once bought would run for years. The RP technologies require the use of consumables which would drive up the cost of service.

Regards,

Robert

Robert Jaquiss
National Federation of the Blind 
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21230 
Phone: 410-659-9314, ext. 2422

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-science-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-science-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nikhil Dama
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2011 9:54 PM
To: nfb-science at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfb-science] blind radiologist

Hi,

I was looking at the description of this job and I found out tha
radiologists have to read many diagrams. These diagrams include
x-rays, MRI scans, or other types of scans. WIth my vision impairment
would there be away that the x-rays could be converted into tactiles,
so I could read them. If I could find away to make this conversion
occur. Then I could become a radiologist.

Thanks,
NIck Dama

On 12/14/11, nfb-science-request at nfbnet.org
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>    1. Request for Beta Testers (David Andrews)
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> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:01:37 -0600
> From: David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>
> To: nfb-science at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Nfb-science] Request for Beta Testers
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>
>>From: "Shelton, Robert O. (JSC-ER711)" <robert.o.shelton at nasa.gov>
>>Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2011 16:21:43 -0600
>>Subject: [Rocketon] Request for Beta Testers
>>
>>Hi everyone.  A few years ago, I led a group which developed an
>>application for access to graphical mathematics -- MathTrax,
>>available from http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov/mathtrax
>>
>>As often happens, funding for upgrades and maintenance was never
>>provided, and the development team moved on to other projects, but
>>MathTrax continues to have a strong following.  Unfortunately, the
>>Windows installer for MathTrax was only intended for 32-bit systems,
>>and while the application installed by the current MathTrax
>>installer technically works, it isn't accessible on a 64-bit
>>system.  Until relatively recently, there was nothing I or anyone
>>else could do about this; however, last spring, Oracle and Freedom
>>Scientific updated the Java Access Bridge to work with 64-bit
>>systems.  With the holidays, I've had a chance to figure out how to
>>rebuild the MathTrax installer for 64-bit Windows systems, and, at
>>least on my machine, it appears to work.
>>
>>What I'd like to ask is whether there might be several volunteers
>>who would be willing to test my new installer.  In order to do this,
>>you need to have 1.  A 64-bit Windows system (Vista or Windows 7)
>>2.  JAWS 12.0.1170 or later -- any version of JAWS 13 should be fine.
>>
>>It would be particularly useful if your system does not have the
>>Java Access Bridge, because the installer for MathTrax must create a
>>little Java environment fitted with all the Java Access Bridge code
>>for accessibility.  If you have a 64-bit system, and you don't know
>>if the Java Access Bridge was installed, it probably wasn't.  The
>>64-bit version requires a manual install, which is painfully
>>memorable.  Of course, the MathTrax installer takes care of the
>>whole works for you, so you don't have to fiddle with the JAB at all.
>>
>>Please let me know if you're willing to test.  I'll need to send you
>>a link to the installer as the one on prime.jsc.nasa.gov is still
>>the 32-bit version.
>>
>>Cheers to all,
>>
>>--Robert Shelton
>>
>>Dr. Robert Shelton
>>Lead, JSC Engineering Orbital Dynamics (JEOD)
>>Simulation and Graphics Branch (ER7)
>>NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
>>2101 NASA Parkway
>>Houston, TX. 77058
>>V: 281-483-5901
>>E: robert.o.shelton at nasa.gov
>
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