Dr. Dhanya Nair
Email: dnair@chapman.edu
Website: https://ndanya.wixsite.com/heartlab
College: Fowler School of Engineering
Overview of scholarly research/creative activity: The overarching goal of my research lab is to develop haptic interfaces to study the sense of touch. Traditionally, human-computer interactions have been limited to visual and audio feedback. Tactile displays and haptic interfaces can change the way we interact with these devices by providing information directly to our body.
Specific projects working on: Dr. Nair is leading the research at HEART (Haptic Educational Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology) Lab. At HEART, the focus is on characterizing human touch and developing tactile assistive technologies.
Specific projects currently under investigation are:
1. Haptic enabled assistive writing: for handwriting and visuo-motor skills training.
Learner wears a device/sleeve on their wrist while attempting to trace a path using a pen. The system provides a corrective real-time vibratory feedback if they deviate from the path.
2. Wearable tactile music: for the deaf population.
A device provides vibro-tactile feedback to the body corresponding to the beats of the music.
3. Low-cost refreshable braille display: for the blind population.
A tactile grid that electronically refreshes the braille text beneath the reader's fingertips.
4. Tactile interfaces for mobile devices: for the blind population.
The contours of an image on the mobile touchscreen is represented on the tactile grid. The individual can use a finger to navigate the touchscreen while simultaneously feeling the contours/image beneath another finger.
5. Ultrasonic mid-air haptics.
Using Ultraleap Development Platform to investigate the patterns that can be distinguished mid-air with the possibility of creating tactile art.
Number of students looking to work with: 1-2
Time commitment for students: Meet twice/week, expected 6-10hrs commitment to project/week.
When students are needed: Fall 2021, Interterm, Spring, and Summer 2022
Requirements for students who work with you: Be a problem solver, proficient in Python. Students with experience/interest in electronics, hardware devices, embedded systems, systems engineering, or image processing are particularly encouraged to apply.
What would students be expected to do: Program commercial haptic devices, program microcontrollers (like Arduino), soldering, PCB/3D printing, and develop/update python programs.
Additional Information: If you have a tendency to play with (or dig deeper into) electronic devices, you may find HEART
Lab an interesting place!