Tactile-based guidance system

1. A guidance system comprising:

a head mount;

one or more audio transducers attached to the head mount that provide 3D audio;

one or more tactors attached to the head mount; and

an electronics module connected to the one or more tactors and the one or more audio transducers; and

wherein:

the one or more tactors are positioned in the head mount so as to make physical contact with a person's head substantially about a circumference disposed above eyes and ears of the person's head when the head mount is situated on the person's head;

the 3D audio exhibits front/back confusion; and

the electronics module provides signals to the one or more tactors to indicate a direction that removes the front/back confusion for the person.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronics module is attached to the head mount.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the direction is for telling the person where to go or what direction the person is facing; and

the signals to the one or more tactors tell the person whether the person is moving closer to or farther from a destination.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the electronics module comprises a direction sensor; and

the direction sensor provides signals to the one or more tactors for telling the person a direction that the person is facing.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronics module reconfigures a pattern of signals provided to the one or more tactors in an event that one or more tactors fail.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

a tactor of the one or more tactors provides signals to a person via physical contact of the tactor at a place on a head of the person;

the signals from the tactor provide a physical stimulation at the place on the head; and

the signals have variable amplitudes, frequencies, rhythms, codes, and/or patterns sufficient to identify a target.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more tactors provide to a person wearing the head mount indications of air supply status, ambient temperature, up and down movement, impending danger messages, and/or other items.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the head mount is integrated as part of headgear.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more audio transducers provide signals which have variable amplitudes, frequencies, rhythms, codes, and/or patterns sufficient to identify a target.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the 3D audio includes a directional cue conveyed with one or more spoken words.

11. A method for physical guidance of a person, comprising:

placing a plurality of tactors in physical contact with the person about a circumference disposed above eyes and ears of the person's head;

providing multi-dimensional audio to a person; and

providing signals from the one or more tactors in a form of physical stimulation at one or places proximate to the person's head; and

wherein:

the multi-dimensional audio provides sound appearing to be from an ambiguous direction to the person hearing the sound; and

the plurality of tactors provides disambiguation signals to resolve the ambiguous direction from the multi-dimensional audio.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:

the plurality of tactors are placed in a head mount; and

the head mount is for placement on a person's head so as to place the plurality of tactors in physical contact proximate to the person's head.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

providing coded signals to the tactors so as to provide additional information to the person; and

wherein the additional information comprises air supply status, ambient temperature, movement, orientation of the person, imminent danger, and/or other items.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the multi-dimensional audio includes a directional cue conveyed with one or more spoken words.

15. A tactile guidance system comprising:

a structure;

one or more tactors attached to the structure;

a signal source connected to the one or more tactors; and

a multi-dimensional sound transducer attached to the structure; and

wherein:

the signal source is for providing direction and/or location information about the structure to the one or more tactors;

the structure is for providing contact between the one or more tactors and a surface on a person's head;

the sound transducer is connected to the signal source;

the sound transducer provides a sound indicating an ambiguous direction; and

the one or more tactors provide a tactile signal to resolve the ambiguity of the direction of the sound.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:

a location/orientation device situated in the structure using an RF technology from a group consisting of angle-of arrival, time of flight and signal strength; and

wherein:

the device can indicate distance and location relative to a dangerous situation; and

the device is connected to the signal source.

17. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:

a device for providing direction and orientation information provided by an external source over an RF link; and

wherein the device is connected to the signal source.

18. A tactile guidance system comprising:

a head mount;

a front tactor and a back tactor attached to the head mount, the front tactor and the back tactor each positioned in the head mount so as to make physical contact with a person's head substantially in the front and the back, respectively, of the person's head, above the level of eyes and ears of the person's head;

one or more audio transducers attached to the head mount;

an electronics module connected to the front tactor, the back tactor, and the one or more audio transducers; and

wherein:

the one or more audio transducers provide a sound indicating a 3D direction;

the 3D direction of the sound is ambiguous; and

the front tactor and the back tactor provide a tactile signal to resolve the ambiguity of the 3D direction of the sound.