Blind and visually impaired (BVI) individuals suffer from lack of versatile and affordable assistive technologies to perceive the graphical information. The existing sensory substitution devices have received minimal user acceptance due to psychophysical deficiencies, manufacturing costs, incompatibility with modern digital technologies and complicated training procedures.
At the University of Bath, we have developed a new award-winning technique to increase the spatial resolution of vibrotactile display device1. Our patented prototype converts the computer-generated electrical signals representing digitised image pixels to corresponding mechanical vibrations on tactile pixels (taxels). This PhD project will initiate a comprehensive approach to develop interactive tactile devices, which will significantly improve the quality of life for BVI individuals ( https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/handheld-display-thatcould-help-blind-people-perceive-information-through-touch-wins-award/).
For example, fingertip mechanoreceptors of different individuals feature different threshold levels. Therefore, certain level of tactile force that can be correctly perceived by one individual might be missed by the others. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms allow developing data driven controller to improve the performance of the system by regulating the vibration level of taxels and improve the psychophysical aspects. Therefore, this PhD project will investigate:
- Increasing the resolution of display and integration of sensors for interactive display
- AI control algorithms for smart controllers that adjust the magnitude of tactile inputs
The PhD student will have access to the labs at Faculty of Engineering including Microsystems Research Lab (https://people.bath.ac.uk/am3151/) and REality and Virtual Environments Augmentation Labs (http://www.bath.ac.uk/reveal). The PhD student will travel to national and international conferences to present the results of this interdisciplinary research to stake holders such as RNIB and end users.
This interdisciplinary project will be supervised by a team of active researchers from Departments of Electronic Engineering, Computer Science and Psychology. The supervisory team (Dr Ali Mohammadi, Prof Peter Hall and Dr Michael Proulx) will provide comprehensive training and expertise in tactile sensing systems, interface electronics, neural networks and psychology of perception.
For informal inquiries please contact Dr Ali Mohammadi ([Email Address Removed]).
Applicant requirements
Applicants should hold, or expect to hold, a 2.1 or higher undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, or the international equivalent. A Masters degree would be advantageous.
Applications should be submitted using the application form for the PhD in Electronic & Electrical Engineering.
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