| 摘要 |
<p>A hand-held communication device which serves as an alternative to a keyboard and, in addition, allows the user to receive communications via the sense of touch. While keyboards and associated equipment have been employed for communication between persons who are deaf, such systems are not suitable for communications between persons who are also blind. The device including a handle-like body (10) supporting eight switch actuators (16A-16D and 18A-18D) arranged as four pairs, with each of the pairs corresponding to a particular finger. The two switch actuators are positioned for selective activation by distal and proximal segments of a single finger. With this arrangement, the eigth switch actuators can be selected in any desired combination to directly generate an eight-bit binary code, such as ASCII. In addition, to facilitate two-way communication, the device includes a plurality of selectively controlled tactile stimulation elements (40A-40D and 42A-42D), such as vibrators or controlled "click" devices, corresponding to particular ones of the switch actuators and mechanically connected thereto. Although not so limited, the device is well-adapted for use by persons who are speechless, deaf and speechless, or even blind, deaf and speechless.</p> |
