User friendly selection apparatus based on touch screens for visually impaired people
View Patent ↗A selection apparatus providing user friendly interface for visually impaired people. The selection apparatus may contain a touch screen and a guide structure. The guide structure is disposed along the touch buttons in the touch screen, and contains touch points corresponding to the touch buttons. The touch points are designed such that a different sensation is felt when a user slides an object (e.g., finger) along the selection structure. An exit may be designed to help lead the object from each touch point to corresponding touch button. Thus, a visually impaired person may slide a finger along the guide structure, feel a touch points and use the associated exit to locate a corresponding touch button.
1. A system comprising:
a touch screen containing a plurality of touch buttons;
a guide structure including a physical projection or groove to lead a finger along a plurality of touch points, wherein said plurality of touch points provide tactile sensations for a person guiding a finger along said guide structure, the tactile sensation of such a touch point being different than tactile sensations provided by the guide structure and the touch screen, including the touch buttons thereof, said plurality of touch points being respectively associated with corresponding ones of said plurality of touch buttons;
a processor so cause a plurality of choices to be displayed on said touch screen, wherein such a choice is displayed in association with a corresponding one of said plurality of touch buttons responsive to a person touching the touch button associated with the touch point; and
a plurality of exits, the touch points being associated with respective ones of the exits, such an exit being interposed between the touch screen and the exit's touch point and including an exit structure for tactile leading of said finger from the exit's touch point to the touch screen and the touch point's associated touch button.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said guide structure further comprises a reference point, and wherein said system further comprises a speaker to read out said plurality of choices, said plurality of choices being associated with respective numbers, each such number representing a number of touch buttons a corresponding choice is located from said reference point.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said guide structure is contained in a border surrounding said touch screen, and wherein said touch points are also contained in said guide structure.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein for such a guide structure comprising a groove, each of said plurality of touch points comprises a bump in said groove.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein each of said plurality of exits opens said groove at a touch point to a corresponding touch button.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein for such a guide structure comprising a physical projection, each of said plurality of touch points comprises a depression.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said touch screen comprises:
a display area for displaying said plurality of choices; and
a touch area containing said touch buttons.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said system comprises a transaction system.