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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
19:44
A Tactile Automated Passive-Finger Stimulator (TAPS)
Published on: June 3, 2009
Graphical tactile displays for visually-impaired people
Fernando Vidal-Verdú1, Moustapha Hafez
1Department of Electronics, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain. fvidal@uma.es
Summary
This survey reviews graphical tactile displays, which use touch to convey information. While progress is being made, an efficient, low-cost refreshable tactile display for the visually impaired remains an unmet goal.
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Assistive Technology
- Haptics
Background:
- Graphical tactile displays provide information via the sense of touch.
- Traditional methods like shapeable sheets are impractical due to bulk, cost, and durability issues.
- Refreshable tactile displays aim to present computer-generated text and graphics through touch.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present an up-to-date survey of graphical tactile display technology.
- To explore the diverse research areas and emerging applications of tactile displays.
- To identify the challenges hindering the development of practical and affordable tactile display solutions.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of graphical tactile display research.
- Analysis of technological advancements and physiological studies.
- Examination of applications in virtual reality, surgery, and teleoperation.
Main Results:
- Significant research interest and investment are driving innovation in tactile display technology.
- Numerous prototypes have demonstrated the capability to present tactile information.
- Current prototypes are largely research-based and prohibitively expensive for commercialization.
Conclusions:
- The field of graphical tactile displays is rapidly evolving with diverse research directions.
- Despite advancements, the primary objective of an efficient, low-cost tactile display for the visually impaired has not yet been achieved.
- Further development is needed to overcome cost and scalability barriers for widespread adoption.
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