An Innovative Micro Actuator Using Electro Rheological Fluid Technology for Visually Impaired Tactile Display Information Technology Access Applications

Author(s):  
M. Shafik ◽  
B. Mills

This paper presents the research has been undertaken, to design and develop a micro actuator using electro rheological fluid technology, for visually impaired tactile display information technology, access applications. The micro actuator consists of a small cylinder made of ABS plastic material with 1.5 mm diameter and 10 mm long. The inner surface of the cylinder is coated by nickel using electroless coating process. A coaxial conducting rod of 1.02 mm diameter and 10 mm long is fitted vertically in the centre of the cylinder. The coated surface is used as first electrode and the coaxial conducting rod used as a second electrode, to form the micro actuation high voltage area. The microactuator structure has been used to develop a tactile display of a large scale in a matrix form of 124×4 actuators. An advanced software tools and embedded system based on voltage matrix manipulation has been developed to provide the display the near real time control. The new micro actuator development process, software control tools and actual developed prototype is presented in this paper. Prototype size 124×4 micro actuators, on a matrix form, with a separation distance of 2.54 mm, was manufactured. The experimental tests carried out into the prototype showed that each micro actuator was able to provide a vertical movement of 0.7 mm and a vertical holding force of 100 to 200mN. These results meet the necessary standard requirement of Braille applications. Stroke and dynamic response test showed the practicability of the developed micro actuator for electronic refreshable high resolution graphical tactile display, for visually impaired and blind information technology access applications.

2013 ◽  
Vol 415 ◽  
pp. 155-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Shafik

This paper presents an innovative tactile interactive interface graphical display for visually impaired people, information technology (IT) access application. The display consists of matrix of dots. Each dot is an electro rheological fluid micro actuator. The micro-actuator designed based on linear vertical movement principles. The actuator design and development process is presented in this paper. An advanced software tools and embedded system based on voltage matrix manipulation are developed to provide the display near real time control. Prototype size 124x4 dots, on a matrix form, of 2.54mm pitch, was manufactured. The experimental tests carried out into the prototype showed that each actuator of the matrix was able to provide a vertical holding force of 100 to 200 mN and vertical movement of 0.7 mm. The stroke and dynamic response tests showed the practicability of the developed micro actuation system, for tactile display IT access applications.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Nkiko ◽  
Morayo I. Atinmo ◽  
Happiness Chijioke Michael-Onuoha ◽  
Julie E. Ilogho ◽  
Michael O. Fagbohun ◽  
...  

Studies have shown inadequate reading materials for the visually impaired in Nigeria. Information technology has greatly advanced the provision of information to the visually impaired in other industrialized climes. This study investigated the extent of application of information technology to the transcription of reading materials for the visually impaired in Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design of the ex-post facto to select 470 personnel as respondents. A questionnaire titled Information Technology Use Scale (α=0.74), and Interview Schedule (α=0.75), were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The findings indicate that information technology in transcription was low and a significant positive relationship between application of information technology and transcription of information materials (r=0.62: p<0.05). The study recommended among others that Multi-National Corporations should be sensitized to extend their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities to help in procuring modern information technology devices and software to enhance transcription.


Author(s):  
Jason J. Saleem ◽  
Kyle Maddox ◽  
Jennifer Herout ◽  
Kurt Ruark

This practice-oriented paper presents a human-centered design (HCD) framework that we developed to perform a comprehensive evaluation of a new health information technology (HIT) system under development, intended to replace a legacy system. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Crisis Line (VCL) program provides a vital service in crisis intervention and suicide prevention. VCL staff rely on a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) legacy system, Medora. VCL intended to replace Medora with Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) CRM system. Due to wide-spread criticism of D365, the VA Human Factors Engineering (HFE) team engaged in a multi-study, mixed-method HCD evaluation to investigate the legacy system and intended replacement in terms of ability to support VCL staff needs. The HCD framework we developed to perform this evaluation may be adapted for other large-scale HIT transitions and may provide human factors practitioners with guidance to make evidence-based decisions to support (or abandon) such transitions.


2011 ◽  
Vol 335-336 ◽  
pp. 372-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Hu Xu ◽  
Gui Qin Li ◽  
Qing Guo ◽  
Feng Lin ◽  
Xin Cai

This paper will give a solution of measurement and control system based on FPGA embedded system for the Plastic Material Dynamic High-speed Tensile Machine (PMDHTM) with 1-100s-1strain rate range. Using sub-modules design of Nios II soft-wore and SOPC to build measurement and control system. The state machine algorithm and servo drive device are applied to accomplish precise state control of the linear shaft motor. Collecting the stress data online and non-contacting strain measurement is adopted. The test result can well meet the linear motor control response demand below the 5Hz frequency. Compared with other control based on SCM, DSP and so on, it supplies an innovation way for the PMDHTM control.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Lohasz ◽  
Nassim Rousset ◽  
Kasper Renggli ◽  
Andreas Hierlemann ◽  
Olivier Frey

Microphysiological systems hold the promise to increase the predictive and translational power of in vitro substance testing owing to their faithful recapitulation of human physiology. However, the implementation of academic developments in industrial settings remains challenging. We present an injection-molded microfluidic microtissue (MT) culture chip that features two channels with 10 MT compartments each and that was designed in compliance with microtiter plate standard formats. Polystyrene as a chip material enables reliable, large-scale production and precise control over experimental conditions due to low adsorption or absorption of small, hydrophobic molecules at or into the plastic material in comparison with predecessor chips made of polydimethylsiloxane. The chip is operated by tilting, which actuates gravity-driven flow between reservoirs at both ends of every channel, so that the system does not require external tubing or pumps. The flow rate can be modulated by adjusting the tilting angle on demand. The top-open design of the MT compartment enables efficient MT loading using standard or advanced pipetting equipment, ensures oxygen availability in the chip, and allows for high-resolution imaging. Every channel can be loaded with up to 10 identical or different MTs, as demonstrated by culturing liver and tumor MTs in the same medium channel on the chip.


Author(s):  
Eliot Rich ◽  
Mark R. Nelson

Large-scale information technology (IT) projects experience higher failure or abandonment rates than smaller IT projects and represent significant costs to both organizations and society. This paper describes the context of a three-decade long attempt to modernize a critical IT application in the U.S. government. The project has been revamped, stopped and restarted several times, and as of the writing of this paper has not been completed. Archival analysis of this implementation history reveals a set of emerging project characteristics and how these contributed to a pair of capability gaps which, in turn, influenced modernization efforts both pre- and post-abandonment. From a systems perspective, the problem appears to be related to dynamic and repeating management failures with an embedded project management model. The authors illustrate their hypothesis with a simulation model of project managements and show that even a relatively small but persistent introduction of new requirements has a dramatic effect on project overruns, setting the stage for abandonment and restart.


2010 ◽  
pp. 167-189
Author(s):  
Mahmood Shah ◽  
Steve Clarke

Project management is an important concept in business development. Often, the development of information technology or managing change will be run as projects, and managed using various well established project management techniques and tools. E-banking is often treated like a large scale project and broken into several small scale projects to manage various different aspects (called project portfolios), ranging from BPR to make the organization ready for online operations, to actual implementation of e-banking technologies.


Author(s):  
Qing Hu ◽  
Robert T. Plant

The promise of increased competitive advantage has been the driving force behind the large-scale investment in information technology (IT) over the last three decades. There is a continuing debate among executives and academics as to the measurable benefits of this investment. The return on investment (ROI) and other performance measures reported in the academic literature indicate conflicting empirical findings. Many previous studies have based their conclusions on the statistical correlation between IT capital investment and firm performance data of the same time period. In this study we argue that the causal relationship between IT investment and firm performance could not be reliably established through concurrent IT and performance data. We further submit that it would be more convincing to infer causality if the IT investments in the preceding years are significantly correlated with the performance of a firm in the subsequent year. Using the Granger causality models and three samples of firm-level financial data, we found no statistical evidence that IT investments have caused the improvement of financial performance of the firms in the samples. On the contrary, the causal models suggest that improved financial performance over consecutive years may have contributed to the increase of IT investment in the subsequent year. Implications of these findings as well as directions for future studies are discussed.


Author(s):  
G. David Garson

Discusses the rise of information technology functions in higher education and the related advent of quality standards for on-line education. The limited nature of existing guidelines is emphasized, particularly in the dimension of establishing authentic relationships, empowerment of faculty and students, and the inculcation of critical thinking. The Borkian vision of the future of education is summarized and contrasted with the limits if not failure of the legacies of past large-scale educational investments in programmed learning and in computer simulation. The drift toward mandated standards in on-line/distance education is discussed as well as the tension of this with empowerment concepts. Further contrast is drawn between the competing models of the university as “community of scholars” and as “marketplace of consumers.” Cost-cutting motives for on-line course delivery are explored in some detail, raising issues about radical proposals to restructure university teaching functions. A hybrid model, involving both computer-mediated and face-to-face methods, is seen as the superior instructional strategy, but the cost of this model raises the danger that a two-tier educational system will emerge – a more expensive upper tier with sound traditional education supplemented with the benefits of electronic media, and a cheaper, inferior tier dispensing programmed training to meet objectives far narrower than the traditional goals of liberal education.


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