DE102004042884B4 - Communication device for the mentally handicapped - Google Patents

Abstract

Communication device for transmitting and receiving information as the basis of a simultaneous communication for the mentally handicapped persons, using Braille, wherein the communication device (1) is designed as a one-handed or two-handed device and controls are provided as input and output elements, each six controls ( 5; 6; 7) are provided for the input (5; 6) and for the output (7), or wherein tactile receiving elements for the output (7) are combined with the operating elements (5; 6), the operating elements (5 ; 6, 7) are operable via the five fingers and the palm of the operator, the communication device (1) consists of a housing (4) with housing bottom (3) and a housing designed as a functional and operating surface front side (2) and the operating elements ( 5, 6, 7), the housing front side (2) are arranged across or flat to these in the housing (4).

Description

The The invention relates to a communication device for the mentally handicapped for transmission and to receive information as a basis for direct communication, so between deafblind persons, but also the direct communication between deafblind persons and other, not deafblind persons.

People, who communicate with each other, each use a specific Language. People who can see and / or hear communicate by they transmit to each other acoustic and / or visual signs. For certain people, however, such communication is not possible. So can For example, deafblind people neither see nor hear, so that an acoustic or visual communication between these Persons and to other persons is not possible.

With the developments of Braille, Braille after its inventor Louis Braille and the Lormsprache for deafblind Persons, named after the inventor Hyronimus Lorm, are foundations It has been created that deafblind persons an aid to hand to be able to receive or forward information.

The recent developments in the transmission and information technology were also used to blind people facilitate access to and dissemination of information.

These solutions are basically based on Braille, and devices have been developed which in the Usually stationary being used in conjunction with a personal computer, being already also mobile Braille devices are known, thus managing the blind detached from the PC this Braille reader can. These devices are with tactile surfaces trained, which largely as input and output elements for Braille serve.

A mobile braille reader is compatible with the DE 195 39 306 A1 became known, with the blind the mobile access to the literature as well as to texts on data carriers in braille, the so-called Braille, should be made possible.

So exists this mobile braille reader, which is largely in Mobile form is formed from a braille output element, where the braille output elements with a tactile surface in the as button pronounced Switching elements are recessed, so the indexing in Braille text information conveniently presented.

Further is running, that this mobile braille reader next to the braille output unit a Speech output unit has, which optionally for text transmission can be used. To protect the switching and tactile surface is this area with a movable cover plate as a transport protection educated.

As already stated above, Deafblind persons use a formal language communication, the Lormen, where these persons give each other's hand have to. By pressing or swipe over Certain areas of the other person's hand will use these letters or letter combinations transmitted one after the other.

adversely in this type of communication is that communicating with each other Persons always in direct physical contact have to be together. Also is for the deafblind person is at a disadvantage in being unable to a printed book or text stored in a computer to read.

One Deafblind needed therefore a person to read to him, the printed letters and words a text by means of the Lormsprache in the hand transfers.

To simplify this elaborate process, was in the DE 195 17 649 A1 a device for transmitting characters and letters from a data processing system proposed to a deaf-blind person, said device having at least one stimulatory means, the hand of the person lying on or near the stimulus punctiform, planar and / or from a starting point to an end point web- or line-shaped temporarily irritated, the characters certain points, tracks, lines and / or surfaces are assignable to the hand.

With this device it is possible that deaf-blind people can read texts without outside help and in that the device with its stimulatory means holds the hand of the Deafblind person is as irritated as the reader Person would do is running, that the deafblind does not have to learn a new language, but he can use the familiar lorm language.

The associated device then describes that the coming of the data processing system information on intended facilities largely implemented in stimulus symbols become. This is such that stimulating means are arranged in a grid-like manner next to one another in the device, which simultaneously or successively act on the hand of the deafblind.

With the EP 1 179 816 A2 is a communication device for blind people has become known, which is a pure input and output system for characters using and using the Braille. This device is suitable for blind persons, but this device can not be used for voice transmission for deafblind persons.

A hand control device with multiple, on the surface of the device adjacent finger-operable control panels for triggering and transmitting pulses to a receiver, for example to a PC, is connected to the DE 94 00 699 U1 has become known, which is designed so that in addition to the control panels, at least one set on the control panels control field reproducing additional field is provided. This additional field should in particular assume a surface contour corresponding to the set control status, preferably in each case a Braille character.

This Manual control unit is for the use as a communication device between deafblind people not suitable.

Furthermore, reference is made to a handset, which with the US 4,215,490 has become known and can only be used by people who speak the Braille. In so-called face-to-face communication, a deaf-blind person and another person, both of whom are proficient in Braille, can tactilely read with one finger and communicate in close proximity to each other. The communication is one-way and is carried out by the person writing with both hands. For a dialogue, the device must always be operated reciprocally. Seeing and hearing persons are usually not able to tactile with a fingertip to read. Those who master the Braille can write in the best case with the keyboard in braille.

The featured device becomes in practice on a blind and a deafblind or two deafblind persons sitting opposite each other and both master the Braille / Braille.

With the solutions described above as well as with the devices known on the market are blind and deafblind People possibilities given access to literature and other publications as far as possible to facilitate, however, is a direct communication with each other not possible. They are thus of a great Part of the surrounding reality excluded and especially suffer from this loss of information.

Of the Invention is based on the object, a communication device for the mentally handicapped / deafblind To create people with access to the already common disks given and the simultaneous communication between these persons and to other people possible is.

According to the invention this Task solved with the features of claim 1.

Special Embodiments and advantageous solutions are specified in the subclaims.

With The present invention has been developed a mobile communication device as a writing and reading device, created which deafblind access to communication with Deafblind, blind, deaf and empowered persons. The technical operating principle of the communication device is based on the blind-braille Braille and is designed so that this communication device of deafblind and blind people written with one hand and with one hand tactile or reading and writing possible with the same hand is.

So far is the Braille with the right or left index finger read. The points are as close to each other as a group of six, that they can be felt with a fingertip. This sensitivity in the Fingertips, however, decreases with increasing age Respective person, so that respecting the basic idea of Braille the invention assumes, with only one hand, all the signs of To represent alphabet. This also under the knowledge that at the Braille with six points 63 different character combinations possible are so made using the Braille and the created communication device thus a possibility was created, a big one Group of the blind and deafblind communicate with each other to enable because a lot This group of people mastered the Braille itself.

According to the invention is the communication device not only mobile but also in a compact design an easy-to-use device, which can be operated with one hand. This is possible because on the operating side of the communication device six controls are arranged, as input and output elements in the form of send and receive buttons are formed.

The Arrangement of the controls is such that they with a Hand operated are, both by the five fingers of a hand as well through the respective palm of your hand.

there is particularly essential to the invention that the six controls largely fulfill a dual function, namely both are formed as input and as output elements, which advantageously in the form is realized that these controls as tactile elements are formed so that when you press the controls through a press the corresponding information is entered into the communication device can and on the other in the six input elements also tactile Output elements are used. These can be centered in the respective input element be arranged tactile elements, which according to conventional and known methods can be controlled.

So This can be done by a vibration or by an outflowing air flow from the respective output element.

By the arrangement and execution The control elements on the communication device are the letters and Sign of Braille according to the invention on the hand of the operator of the device projected, as far as possible "run" the letters The Braille is successively "through the fingers".

In order to are also older People who are not over have the necessary finger sensitivity to Braille with the index finger of the left or the right To be able to feel the hand, not more excluded from the Braille, as writing and reading by pressing the controls of the communication device by large-scale touching means the five Finger of a hand and the ball of your hand is possible.

Size differences the hands the serving people are compensated by the controls for example elongated Own forms or advantageously the controls replaceable in the communication device are arranged so that elongated trained controls are used, thus different in size Operating elements, each adapted to the operator's hand, used can be.

This is especially for the sixth control of importance, which with the palm of your hand actuated becomes. Here is advantageously a larger control, the size of the handball adapted, used.

The Basic form of the communication device is doing so in an ergonomically favorable Form formed, so in the form of a computer mouse, which has a curved functional surface, so that through longer Operating the communication device occurring signs of fatigue are largely excluded in the hand.

A Embodiment of the present invention shows a communication device, which consists of two functional parts, the left and the right Hand of the operating person pressed become.

there are the functional surfaces of the communication device each equipped with six controls, so that the two functional parts can be operated with the right and left hand.

advantageously, is the right part of the device designed as writing part and the left part as reading part.

Of the Basic structure and the function of this communication device correspond as already described above, wherein the controls of the writing part then as input elements, as send buttons, are formed and the left side as output elements in the form of receiving elements.

It belongs to the invention that this two-part communication device is formed is that the two keypads separate or hinged to each other are connected or in a further preferred embodiment on the front and back of the communication device the functional elements, the controls, are arranged. So is the front as a writing part and the back designed as a reading part.

It is also within the scope of the invention, that the communication device, regardless of his execution as a device or as two devices, these each with additional Function keys, preferably arranged at the upper edge of the respective device, are formed. So can for example, in addition four buttons are installed, which are designed as function keys are about their operation then connections to other communication devices can be made. So to a personal computer, to a telephone line, to the radio network as an emergency call or for additional functions, such as connecting to other systems.

With In the present inventive solution, deafblinds can intercommunicate for the first time Call worldwide with mobile / telephone in real-time dialogue.

By appropriate hardware and software is it is possible for speakers to communicate with the communication device via voice input or keyboard. Blind people can comfortably operate the PC, and designed as a writing and reading device communication device can be operated both stationary, with a PC, mobile, via radio, telephone or as a mobile phone.

The Areas of application of the communication devices produced according to the invention are very broad. So can these used in various fields and by persons be used as a means of communication, which blind or deafblind are and also the communication to not dysfunctional people possible is.

• – für taubblinde oder hörsehbehinderte Menschen, die die Schriftsprache beherrschen;
• – für Personen, die über das Ein-Hand-Braillesystem (EHB-System) mit Taubblinden kommunizieren möchten;
• – für Blinde zur schnellen Texteingabe in den PC, Laptop, PDA oder andere entsprechende Geräte in Blindenvoll- oder -kurzschrift bzw. zur Ansteuerung eines Blindenschriftdruckers;
• – bei der Bildung und Erziehung von taubblinden und hörbehinderten Kinder, Jugendlichen und Erwachsenen;
• – für Blinde, die die notwendige Sensibilität für den Lesefinger nicht mehr haben, mit den einzelnen Fingern aber noch gut fühlen und sich Texte über den PC oder internen Speicher ausgeben lassen bzw. auch selbst Texte eingeben;
• – für die Kommunikation von Hörseh- und Sprechbehinderten mit anderen Personen, z. B. bei Behörden, im Gericht, im Krankenhaus usw., dazu ist eine optische und/oder akustische Umsetzung notwendig;
• – für die Kommunikation mit Taubblinden, z. B. bei Behörden, im Gericht, im Krankenhaus usw., dazu ist eine optische und/oder akustische Umsetzung notwendig.

The areas of application are:

• - for deafblind or hearing-impaired people who speak the written language;
• - for persons who wish to communicate with deafblind persons via the one-hand Braille system (EHB system);
• - for the blind for quick text input to the PC, laptop, PDA or other corresponding devices in full or partial blindness or to control a Braille printer;
• - in the education and training of deaf-blind and hearing-impaired children, adolescents and adults;
• - for the blind, who no longer have the necessary sensitivity for the reading finger, but still feel good with the individual fingers and can output texts via the PC or internal memory or even enter texts themselves;
• - for the communication of hearing and speech impaired persons with other persons, eg. As in public authorities, in court, in the hospital, etc., this is a visual and / or acoustic implementation necessary;
• - for communication with deafblind, z. As in public authorities, in court, in the hospital, etc., this is a visual and / or acoustic implementation necessary.

• – für Konferenzanlagen zum Hören und/oder Schreiben
• – als Hausanlagen für Taubblindeneinrichtungen
• – als Notrufsystem für taubblinde, gehörlose und sprechbehinderte Menschen
• – für Personen ohne Schriftsprache mit einer Symbolschrift
• – für Gehörlose, die sich nur schwer artikulieren können, aber mit nichtbehinderten Personen sprechen möchten (über Sprachausgabe oder Lesezeile)
• – für körperbehinderte Personen zur erleichterten Eingabe von Texten mit einer Hand
• – als Wiedergabegerät für eingespeicherte Texte
• – als Wahrnehmungs- und Orientierungshilfe für taubblinde und hörbehindeerte Personen durch Ausgabe von taktilen Klangmustern auf den 6 vibrierenden Ausgabeelementen

einzusetzen.Furthermore, it is possible by the use of this communication device, this

• - for conference equipment for listening and / or writing
• - as home facilities for deafblind devices
• - As an emergency call system for deaf-blind, deaf and speech-impaired people
• - For persons without written language with a symbol font
• - for deaf people who find it difficult to articulate but who want to speak with non-disabled people (via voice output or reading line)
• - for physically handicapped persons to facilitate the input of texts with one hand
• - as a playback device for stored texts
• - As a perception and orientation aid for deafblind and hearing impaired persons by outputting tactile sound patterns on the 6 vibrating output elements

use.

The Basic principle of the invention, the arrangement of six operating elements, whether combined as input and output elements or individually as input element or output element finds application for the development of others communications equipment in the form of a one-hand Braille mouse, the conventional one known computer mouse similar and a braille writing and reading device in various embodiments.

So is such a one-hand Braille mouse, hereafter called EHB-M, as a known conventional Computer mouse trained and possesses on its operating side the six controls, which are formed in the form already described and are arranged.

So is in a first embodiment the EHB mouse for entering the braille, hereafter referred to as PS, suitable for a PC. It is read in a known manner on the Braille display of the PC or over the voice output of the PC, being parallel on the screen of the PC the text can be displayed.

A another embodiment The EHB mouse consists of training two PS mice, one for input Data d. H. for writing with one hand and the other mouse for output the data d. H. to read with the other hand.

In a third embodiment the EHB-M is designed with controls that can be used both as input and output elements function.

In further variants can, with the help of EHB-M using appropriate software on the Telephone socket can be phoned. The data is transferred via a EHB-M as a receiver for a writing phone or a voice output available Thus, the deafblind can be with a full-bodied person make phone calls if that person is talking about the voice conversion in the EHB-M.

The An imageable dot-writing and reading device is as an independent one Unit trained in which the EHB-M with display, normal keyboard and voice output is.

The basic principle of the invention, the arrangement of six controls, whether combined as Input and output elements or individually as an input element or output element finds application for the development of another communication device in the form of a one-hand Braille cell phone, hereinafter called EHB-H. With this EHB-H, operators, deafblind people, can independently call other people and communicate with each other, worldwide based on existing networks. If the EHB-H is connected to a PC, the braille can be printed out immediately using the appropriate software and a dot-matrix printer.

Further can be sent and received with the EHB-H SMS, with Reformed Shorthand can also easily encrypted and messages transmitted quickly be, furthermore, is a trouble-free and unobtrusive transmission of information possible.

implemented This is achieved by the formation of an EHB-H, which with a Hand operable, d. H. the controls are in combination designed as input and output elements.

In a further embodiment can Two EHB-H are used, one for sending and the other for receiving information.

Finally one third embodiment, in the one EHB-H as a device is formed, on one side of the input elements, thus the send buttons are provided and on the other side, the back of the device, the output elements, thus the receive buttons. Sent with the right hand and received with the left hand.

To the Learning and handling and the application of the invention according to the invention manufactured communication devices Also presented is a braille learning device which continues below closer is described.

With following embodiment the invention should be closer explained become.

In the accompanying drawing demonstrate

1 : a communication device with combined input and output elements in a perspective view

2 : a top view after 1

3 : the communication device in a two-device version in a principle plan view

4 A further embodiment of the communication device with arranged on the front and back controls

5 : a basic representation of a braille learning device.

The training of the communication device 1 as a compact, hand-operable device is shown in a perspective view in FIG 1 shown, which consists of a housing 4 , a caseback 3 and a housing front 2 is trained. The case front 2 is the functional / operating side of the communication device 1 which of the controls 5 . 6 . 7 is penetrated, with a certain degree beyond the level of the case front 2 protrude.

This is for the function of the communication device 1 not essential, but beneficial for the operator, with the controls 5 . 6 . 7 also plan the housing front 2 in the case 4 can be arranged, thus with the housing front side 2 to form a plane.

The controls 5 . 6 are, functionally considered, input / transmission elements, which are formed in a preferred manner as buttons.

The at the top of the communication device 1 distributed distributed control elements 5 , five pieces, are operated by the five fingers of one hand of the operator while the operating element 6 from the palm of the operator is put into operation.

The controls 5 . 6 are designed as combination function elements, by exercising on the one hand the functions as input / transmission elements and on the other hand the function as output / reception elements.

Creative, constructive are the controls 5 . 6 centric with tactile receiving elements 7 formed, the arrangement and design of the controls 5 . 6 Also so possible is that the tactile receiving elements 7 circumferentially to the controls 5 . 6 are arranged.

The over these receiving elements 7 emitted tactile received signals can be sent or displayed in the form of vibrations, air currents, thermal heating or other stimulus signals.

The reference numerals 8th to 13 document that the controls 5 . 6 as function keys 8th to 13 function, which are determined by the Braille system and the frequency of their use in the arrangement, ie these function keys 8th to 13 Certain letters are assigned under consideration of the Braille system, so that when operating the operating elements 5 . 6 can be sent and thus written.

Analogous to the controls 5 . 6 , the transmitting elements, are the tactile receiving elements 7 also formed according to the Braille system, so that when receiving the corresponding tactile receiving elements 7 be controlled and thus the deaf-blind person can read.

The arrangement of the controls 5 . 6 and the tactile receiving elements 7 and their assignment to the function keys determined by the Braille system 8th to 13 follows from the top view of the communication device 1 to 2 ,

The embodiment of the Kommimikationsgerätes invention 1 as a two-part device is in the 3 shown where the right device, the write-sending device 14 and the left device as the read-receiving device 15 are formed.

Both devices 14 . 15 are on their fronts 2 formed with the corresponding function keys / functional elements. So has the writing and sending device 14 the six controls 5 . 6 and the reader-receiver 15 the six tactile receiving elements 7 ,

The two devices 14 . 15 are designed with appropriate connections with which these devices 14 . 15 can be connected to data systems.

Like the communication device 1 to 1 , are also these two devices, the write-sending device 14 and the reader-receiver 15 , additionally with function keys 16 formed, which preferably in the upper region at the outer edge of the housing 4 are arranged.

By the serving person become the write-transmitting device 14 with the right hand and the read-receiving device 15 operated with the left hand.

Another embodiment of the communication device 1 is in the 4 shown, which is designed so that both the case front 2 as well as the caseback 3 are designed as functional pages by sliding on both sides of the housing 4 the controls 5 . 6 and the receiving elements 7 are arranged. Right side of the communication device 1 , on the case front 2 , are the controls 5 . 6 , the input transmission elements, provided while on the opposite side 3 the output-receiving elements in the form of the tactile receiving elements 7 are provided.

As in the previously described embodiments of the communication device 1 , This embodiment is in the outer region of the housing 4 with the function keys 16 educated.

The operation of this communication device 1 corresponds to those of the communication devices already described above 1 , It can be operated with the right and left hand and can be operated as far as possible detached from a pad / edition.

To learn the operation and the operation of the communication devices produced according to the invention 1 is presented a braille learning device, a PS learning device, which in the 5 is shown in principle. The PS-learning device includes two devices equipped according to the invention, such as a write-transmitting device 14 and a reader-receiver 15 , which on the one hand with the controls 5 . 6 and on the other hand with the tactile reception elements 7 are formed.

Both the writing side and the reading side are designed as a triple combination. The left first part 17 contains a 6-point display, the tactile display, which displays the usual but enlarged six points. The second part 18 has the six points next to each other, analogous to the well-known braille typewriter and the third part is the read-receive device 15 according to the invention.

The right side of the PS learning device is also designed as a triple combination and consists of the same functional parts 17 . 18 , but not as a tactile display, but as input elements for sending / writing with the write transceiver 14 are connected.

Claims (8)

Communication device for transmitting and receiving information as a basis for simultaneous communication for the mentally ill, using Braille, wherein the communication device ( 1 ) is designed as a one-handed or two-handed device and controls are provided as input and output elements, each six controls ( 5 ; 6 ; 7 ) for input ( 5 ; 6 ) and for the output ( 7 ) or wherein tactile receiving elements for the output ( 7 ) with the operating elements ( 5 ; 6 ) are combined, whereby the operating elements ( 5 ; 6 ; 7 ) are operable via the five fingers and the palm of the hand of the operator, the communication device ( 1 ) from a housing ( 4 ) with caseback ( 3 ) and designed as a functional and operating surface housing front side ( 2 ) and the controls ( 5 ; 6 ; 7 ), the housing front side ( 2 ) or flat to these in the housing ( 4 ) arranged are. Communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tactile receiving elements ( 7 ) centric or circumferential to the controls ( 5 ; 6 ) are arranged. Communication device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that on the outer circumference of the housing ( 4 ) several function keys ( 16 ) are arranged, on their actuation the communication device ( 1 ) can be coupled to other data transmission systems. Communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication device ( 1 ) is designed as a two-handed device, by means of which information input and information output can be sent and received on the basis of the 6-point system of the instruction of the blind and the communication device ( 1 ) from a writing and transmitting device ( 14 ) and a reading and receiving device ( 15 ), the writing and transmitting device ( 14 ) with six operating elements (input and output elements) ( 5 ; 6 ) and the reading and receiving device ( 15 ) with six trained as reading and receiving elements tactile receiving elements ( 7 ) and at the outer periphery of the housing ( 4 ) of the writing and transmitting device ( 14 ) as well as the reading and receiving device ( 15 ) Function keys ( 16 ) are arranged. Communication device according to claim 4, characterized in that the writing and transmitting device ( 14 ) and the reading and receiving device ( 15 ) are functionally connected to each other. Communication device according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the writing and transmitting device ( 14 ) and the reading and receiving device ( 15 ) are connected to each other via connecting elements, wherein as connecting elements, for example, a hinged hinge can be used, so that the two devices ( 14 ; 15 ) are back to each other hinged. Communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing bottom ( 3 ) also as a functional operating page ( 3 ), analogous to the housing front side ( 2 ), and these functional and operating pages ( 2 ; 3 ) the controls ( 5 ; 6 ; 7 ) and at the periphery of the communication device ( 1 ) Function keys ( 16 ) are arranged. Communication device according to Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is obtained by adding conventional Braille reading and writing elements ( 17 ; 18 ) can be supplemented to a braille learning device.