Touch-in-Touch-Out tactile display for blind and visually impaired users
Official title: TITO: A Touch-In-Touch-Out Tactile Display for Direct Manipulation Digital Interfaces for Blind and Visually Impaired People
Funded at Newhaptics Corp. · NIH-11365199 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new touchscreen-like device with thousands of raised tactile pins will let blind and visually impaired people directly manipulate on-screen items using drag, resize, and drawing actions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Newhaptics Corp. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $503,472 |
| NIH project number | 5R61EY037521-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365199 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are blind or visually impaired individuals who rely on tactile interfaces and screen readers.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not use Braille or tactile graphics or those unable to operate touch-based devices may derive limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a refreshable braille and tactile graphic surface that users can touch and manipulate in real time. It combines hardware with software to enable direct manipulation of screen elements, including drag-and-drop and geometric layouts, through a 2D pin array. Researchers will develop an API to work with screen readers and office software, ensuring accessibility across common tools. The team will include blind/VI co-designers and screen-reader developers, using user studies to guide design iterations. The project is planned in two phases (R61 then R33) with milestones like a user-validated toolkit ready for broader use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the device could dramatically improve how blind and visually impaired people interact with digital content, enabling more independent computer use.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in tactile displays shows promise, but a direct manipulation interface with broad compatibility is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Newhaptics Corp.
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Russomanno, Alexander — Newhaptics Corp.
- Study coordinator: Russomanno, Alexander
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Microfluidic Braille and tactile display for education
A new, portable braille and tactile graphics display uses microfluidic technology to give large-format, block-by-block touch feedback for diagrams and text to adults who are blind or have vision loss.
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A device that provides tactile braille and graphics for blind users
This study is creating a new tablet-like device with a special touch screen that can show braille and pictures for blind people, making it easier for them to learn and access information in a fun and interactive way.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.