[accessibleimage] Re: another article

Here's another article from PhysOrg.com:
Wednesday, December 22, 2004

New graphic displays for the blind

The micro robotic group at the caesar research center has recently been =
awarded one of three research prizes by the ONCE foundation in Madrid. The =
ONCE foundation is dedicated to the social integration of the handicapped =
and blind in particular. With this EUR 60,000 prize, the Spanish organizati=
on acknowledges the invention of a new mechanism for graphical tactile =
displays for the blind by the researchers Dr. Bernhard Winzek, Dr. Sam =
Schmitz and Roman Vitushinsky, thus promoting the technical implementation =
of this principle.  =20

Image: One single module with 10 x 10 metallic films. Graphic: Caesar=20

Mar=EDa Jes=FAs San Segundo, Spanish Secretary of Education and Science, =
and Carlos Rub=E9n Fern=E1ndez, President of ONCE foundation, awarded the =
prize to the scientists at the historical Complutense University auditorium=
 in Madrid. Georg Boomgaarden, German Ambassador to Spain, also participate=
d in the festive award ceremony.=20

The displays use metallic films featuring various shape memory alloys =
which are produced layer by layer on silicon wafers using thin film =
technology. Display pixels are generated when the metallic film adjusts =
its curvature partially, similarly to bimetal snap plates for temperature =
switches. The movement of the films is then transferred to the touch panel =
via plastic pins und thus can be detected by the user. The combination of =
shape memory alloys is innovative. It enables switching the film to stable =
positions using different heat pulses without a permanent heat supply. =
Thus, only the switching operation requires electric current, whereas =
maintaining the status does not.=20

The benefits vis-=E0-vis traditional Braille displays are the display's =
compact structure featuring thin film technology, resulting in a cost =
reduction per pixel. Using conventional Braille-cell technology, costs for =
the graphic display of information emerging from the high number of pixels =
required are beyond the price range of the blind. With these innovative =
displays scientists make a significant contribution to the freedom in =
daily life of the handicapped.=20

The Bonn-based international research center caesar (center of advanced =
european studies and research) commenced research in 1999. With over 220 =
employees, interdisciplinary teams conduct research in the areas of =
biotechnology, nanotechnology and medical technology. Research and =
industrial application cooperate smoothly: caesar develops innovative =
products and procedures, and supports scientists in initiating new =
ventures.=20

Source: Caesar=20

http://www.physorg.com/news2474.html=20

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