Search

Browse

• Communities
• Authors
• Year
• Titles
• Subjects

My Space

• Login

A real-time embedded I/O device for kinetically challenged persons

Papadimitriou Kyprianos, Dollas Apostolos, Sotiropoulos Stamatios

Full record

---

Summary

Input devices in general are based on the translation of a stimulus to some action.With the effect of computers today, a large selection of input devices for computer I/Ois available for kinetically challenged persons such as large keyboards, eye-trackingdevices etc. Essentially, all research and associated products to date have focused onmaking computers more accessible to kinetically challenged persons, or, in usingcomputers to perform tasks (e.g. pick-up telephone, turn lights on/off, controllingappliances etc.).The next step is to detach the input devices from the need to be connected to apersonal computer, and by making them embedded, to associate such devices directlywith desired tasks, such as direct device control (without the need of a generalpurpose computer). Furthermore, for kinetically challenged persons, it is desirable todecouple the input device functionality from the actual manipulation of physicalentities (e.g. joysticks, trackballs, keyboards, mouse devices) and rather rely on freemotion which may be more comfortable. Taking example from advances in virtualreality applications for scientific and entertainment purposes alike, which employ 3Dinput and manipulation devices, we consider that an input device which is based onfree motion of kinetically challenged persons would be useful in real-worldapplications, if it is reliable in its results, robust in its operation, reasonable in its size,and inexpensive.In this project we aim at the development of a low cost, embedded input device forimpaired persons, which will be easily tunable to the specific motion characteristics ofdifferent persons without a re-compilation of the design but through reconfiguration,as needed. This device is based on solid-state accelerometers to sense motion in space,which are mounted on user’s hand, a microcontroller to sample the data in real-timeand an embedded reconfigurable device (e.g FPGA) to distinguish types of motionfrom programmable lists of motions. A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is anIntegrated Circuit (IC) that can be programmed in the field after manufacture.The FPGA computational model is an implementation of Finite State Machines(FSM) running in parallel that detect the individual’s movements. A vocabulary of 16predefined motions has been formed. Depending on the identified motion the systemexits a predefined output. The device then could control external devices (e.g airconditioningunits, TV, appliances), in real-time, through a direct electronic interface.A training methodology by which the device could be adapted to individual user’sneeds has also been developed. By using the PC as the user interface, we collect theacceleration data for the motions from individuals. In the standalone operation of thesystem the personal computer is not connected. In this way, the embedded system canrecognize the motions that are similar to the initial patterns which the user provided.

Services