An Indoor-Walk-Guide Simulator using a Haptic Interface

By combining 3D shape modeler (a program which can generate 3D shapes in graphics in a computer) and haptic-sensable devices, we are developing a touch-sensable system to help a blind person understand 3D shapes. Here we report a pathway simulator which simulates a guiding of a pathway through haptic recognition. If we could indicate a pathway by haptic means to the user, i.e., if we simulate resisting force that is caused by sliding of a long cane along the pathway and sensed in his palm, we believe it might give him an on-site feeling of the pathway. The purpose of this haptic pathway simulator is to help a user with his making a mental map of the pathway. So in the simulator we provide guiding information of the surroundings of the user along the pathway by haptic means.