A NOVEL MICROACTUATOR FOR THE REFRESHABLE BRAILLE DISPLAY SYSTEM

THIS WORK WILL DEVELOP A NOVEL MICROACTUATOR MECHANISM FOR USE WITH A COMPUTER INTERFACED REFRESHABLE BRAILLE DISPLAY SYSTEM (RBDS). THE MICROACTUATOR WILL BE DESIGNED TO OPERATE WITHIN THE POWER LIMITATIONS OF THE RBDS. IT WILL ALSO BE DESIGNED TO MEET THE REFRESH AND RESPONSE RATES TOLERANCES WHICH HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED DURING PHASE I. THE MICROACTUATOR WILL BE DESIGNED, AND A FABRICATION PLAN ESTABLISHED DURING PHASE I. THE COMPLETE ACTUATOR WILL BE FABRICATED DURING PHASE II. THE COMPLETE RBDS WILL ALLOW FOR ENHANCED EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS. INTERFACED WITH A PERSONAL COMPUTER, THE RBDS WILL BE CAPABLE OF DISPLAYING TEN ROWS OF 80 BRAILLE CHARACTERS EACH AT A PROJECTED PRICE COMPARABLE TO THE CURRENT STATE OF THE ART DEVICES, WHICH ARE ONLY CAPABLE OF DISPLAYING A SINGLE 80 CHARACTER ROW.