The post was long due. Here is some interesting update. Finally, after some iterations, we come up with the prototype version of the configurable motor matrix which can be used as a model system for cognitive science experiments. This is also special because this is one such project where Makerspace and Learning Science Research team collaborated. If anyone of you is interested in knowing more, you have to visit the lab and experience it
What’s happening here? Here you can see @jtd aka Jude who designed the prototype trying to sense the different vibration pattern which can be generated by these tiny circular vibration motors on the skin. We generated a linear, snake-like pattern that was clearly distinguishable when kept on the skin.
How does it work? Its simple, you coordinate the switching (ON/OFF) of the motors in sequence using a micro-controller( here we used Arduino Uno). Currently, there are 16 vibration motors attached to a flexible matrix which we designed and 3D printed.
Here is how the 3D printed design looks like? We used openscad to design it.
Here is a brief pictorial journey along with some goof-ups!
13 Dec 2019
We started with the design of a vertical mount for motors and printing it using a flexible filament. We designed a 2*2 matrix for exploration purpose and played around with the duration for which the motor was kept ON and then OFF duration.
19 Jan 2020- v1.0
This can be called the prototype version 1.0. Here we printed the 7*7 matrix and it was working fine but the problem was the fragile connection near the motor ends which can break easily if one applies force on the wire.
What’s inside a single motor? This is what happens when the connection gets broken. There is an epoxy coating on the flexible PCB near the ends which makes it extremely hard to re-solder. One of them came out, so we used this opportunity to open up the motor to explore what’s inside! Can you guess how does this vibration motor works?
Do you see the small pieces on the table, that fit on the top of the vertical column and presses the wire so that the tension near the joints is minimized during usage.
Resources:
The Arduino code and design files can be found here
The motor has 2 tiny wires 10mm long and 1mm dia soldered and epoxied in place. They are extremely fragile. We designed a small stopper to prevent the wires from breaking.
While use case requires repostioning motors to do aTwo Point Distinguishing Test, pulling out the motors and reinserting them is a tedious and fault prone task due to the wires.
The stopper will be redesigned to also act as the motor holder. The motor + holder will become a single unit and Insertion / removal from the matrix will be as one block.
I don’t know what the designers have in mind, but one almost obvious application is the ability to convey haptic messages using either a sequence or shape of tactile impressions, or both simultaneously.
A sequence creates or lends itself easily to a linear script, whereas a shape (and a shape with sequence) lend themselves to multidimensional scripts.
A ‘sheet’ of actuators binded to the skin can thus be a digital display for tactile scripts. These are useful for those who have no choice but to use tactile displays in place of visual or aural displays, and also to communicate with those who the situation places in silent circumstances, such as firefighters and investigators of chemical accidents.
Apart from the above haptic use by differently abeled folks, the application here is to provide a sensory experience of abstract parameters eg vector computation, which should improve learning of such abstract stuff.
I did mention differently abled, but (while the imperative to create script alternatives for those who have early learning impairments for whatever reason is certainly critical) I think it is important for all humans to have some experience of communication methods that are out of the mainstream. We take touch for granted, but very few of us are capable of using touch as a tool for grainy communication.
Even those we think of as unimpaired might actually need assistive technology tools in ordinary day to day circumstances, as is likely to happen to a majority of people entering the group of those negatively impacted by age.
It would be fantastic to find out the progress on these gloves. Luckily, with the references in the video, this ought not to be very difficult.
This link, from Futurity, indicates that gloves aren’t the key, it is the vibrations itself that are an aid to passive learning. Since both Braille and Morse, at least at the early stage, need just one finger, it doesn’t really matter where the vibrations are input, as long as the session is sufficiently prolonged — and which, in turn, is also simplified by the fact that it doesn’t have to be a learning session in the first place, it is a backdrop to any activity, or even no particular activity.
To turn this into a tinkering project, one needs 1. a Braille or Morse tutor and a buzzer, 2. both devices should be lightweight, handy, and use relatively little energy.
The most obvious that comes to mind is Braille and Morse learning apps for the smartphone, whose lessons can be streamed directly using Bluetooth to a standalone Bluetooth buzzer. This could be a relatively cheap Bluetooth earbud, because the application does not require good quality sound.
I found these 5 products using Myntra, priced at under Rs 500. I’m just guessing there’ll be even cheaper options, because I never thought of checking out this kind of device before.
I should add that there’s actually no extreme need for the wireless earbuds, provided keeping the phone in a pocket is not an issue. Ordinary wired buds will work as well, and are much cheaper than any Bluetooth equipped buds.
