Other Polymer Actuation Systems for Electronic Braille Pins

5 Other Polymer Actuation Systems for Electronic Braille Pins 

There is a great need to develop electronic Braille screens to allow easier access for visually impaired people to computer based information that now dominates modem lifestyles. These screens require multiple actuators that can be individually addressed and positioned beneath each Braille pin. Due to the close spacing and small size of the pins, conventional motor systems are unsuitable. Actuator materials are ideal for this application and the development of the electronic Braille screen represents a tremendous opportunity to develop a worthwhile, commercial product using polymer actuators. The specifications required of an actuator material to operate Braille pins are well defined, with a displacement of 0.5 mm in 0.5 s the key requirement. Since there must be tactile resistance to enable the pin to be read , the actuators will almost inevitably operate 

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