The present invention discloses an indoor Electronic Traveling Aid (ETA) system for blind and visually impaired (BVI) people. The system comprises a headband, intuitive tactile display with myographic (EMG) feedback, controller, and server-based methods corresponding to three operation modalities. In 1.sup.st modality, sighted users mark routes, map navigational directions, and create semantic comments for BVIs. This information of routes is continuously collected and estimated in ETA servers. In the 2.sup.nd modality, BVIs choose the routes from servers, thereby, are supplied with real-time navigational guidance. Also, an EMG interface is used, where the user's facial muscles are enabled is to send commands to the ETA system. In the 3.sup.rd modality, BVIs receive real-time audio guidance in complex or unforeseen situations: ETA provides a crowd-assisted interface and real-time sensory (e.g., video) data, where crowd-assistants analyze the situation and help the BVI to navigate.

In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, there are provided systems, methods, and apparatuses for implementing a GPS directional swimming watch for the eyesight impaired. For example, according to one embodiment there is a wearable navigational apparatus including: a mechanical input to receive coordinates for a first location located at an end of a first fixed segment originating from an starting point in a first single cardinal direction; a mechanical input to receive coordinates for a second location located at the end of a second fixed segment originating from the first location in a second single cardinal direction perpendicular to the first cardinal direction, in which the first and second fixed segments form a selected route; a haptic feedback motor having a magnetized compass integrated therein to signal a wearer directional information relative to the first and second locations set, in which the hepatic feedback motor signals the wearer to change direction upon any of: (i) reaching the first location, (ii) reaching the second location, and (iii) deviating from any point along the selected route during bidirectional navigation; and a return function to signal to the wearer, via the haptic feedback motor, directional information relative to the starting point from any point along the selected course. Other related embodiments are described.

Electromechanical actuators may be constructed as cylindrical elements with electrodes position around the cylindrical element. The electrodes may receive an electrical signal that causes a core material in the electromechanical actuator to change shape, thus providing haptic feedback to a user, such as when the actuators are integrated with a display screen of a smart phone. A position of the electrodes around the core material may affect a mode of operation of the electromechanical actuators. In one configuration, two electrodes may be located at opposite ends of the cylindrical element along a long axis of the cylinder. In another configuration, two electrodes may be located opposite each other along a circumference of the cylinder. Signals may be applied to the electrodes to generate vibrational feedback or textures on the display screen.

A device and associated methods for entering a PIN via tapping are disclosed. The device can be configured to determine a number of taps provided by a PIN holder on a touch sensor in representation of a PIN digit and to store the number of taps as a digit in a sequence that represents the PIN. Indications for interaction with the device can be provided to PIN holders in the form of auditory cues. A visually impaired PIN holder may be able to complete a PIN entry process by following the indications for interaction, tapping on a touch sensor a number of times equal to the value of the digit of the PIN to be entered, and performing gestures mapped to commands for the device.

Systems and methods generating a haptic output response are disclosed. Video content is displayed on a display. A location of a user touch on the display is detected while the video content is being displayed. A region of interest in the video content is determined based on the location of the user touch. And a haptic output response is generated to a user. A characteristic of the haptic output response is determined using one or more characteristics of the region of interest.

Provided is a printing device that performs printing using a recording material, the printing device including: an capacitive touch panel; a home operation portion including a mechanical key for transitioning from a screen displayed on the capacitive touch panel to a basic screen including information on a remaining amount of the recording material; and a power supply operation portion including a mechanical key for shifting a power state of the printing device, in which a panel installation surface provided with the capacitive touch panel is a surface different from a power supply operation portion installation surface provided with the power supply operation portion.

Provided is a printing device that performs printing using a recording material, the printing device including: an capacitive touch panel; and a transport operation portion including a mechanical key for operating a transport position of a print medium for printing, in which a panel installation surface provided with the capacitive touch panel is a surface different from a transport operation portion installation surface provided with the transport operation portion.

Various examples described herein are directed to systems, methods, and computer-readable medium for providing a tactile response. A document that includes visual data is received. Change data for the visual data that indicates changes in data values of the visual data from a previous time is received. The visual data is rendered. An indication that a section of the document is selected is received. The section includes a first visual data. A change of the first visual data is determined front the change data. A tactile response unit is controlled to provide a tactile response based on the change of the first visual data.

Disclosed here is a system to enable interaction between a user with a disability and a computer program. The system can obtain a representation of a user interface to present to a user. The system can determine an element associated with the user interface, where the element is configured to provide information to the user, however, the user interface presentation of the element at least partially fails to provide the information to the user. Based on the element, the system can determine an appropriate test to perform. The appropriate test indicates at least two of: a test to perform with a keyboard, a gesture test to perform with a mobile screen reader, and an audio test to perform with a screen reader. The system can generate an indication of the appropriate test. The system can provide the indication of the appropriate test prior to releasing the user interface to the user.

An adapter for a tactile display is disclosed. The adapter can be used with a tactile display, such as a display that presents braille characters, to change or modify what is presented to a user. In some embodiments, the braille dots which make up a braille character can be made smaller or larger; spaced closer together or further apart; have a different shape; and/or an image or non-braille characters can be presented to a user of the tactile display using the disclosed adapter.