A 19th-century hand-touch alphabet will soon make its way onto the tech forefront. According to sources, Germany’s Design Research Lab is developing a glove capable of text messaging for the deaf and blind.
With a prototype already present, the glove is expected to be openly-received by the community. It could certainly provide a critical step in the already-present communication-based challenges for the deaf and blind.
The Mobile Lorm Glove
Mikulove Heinrich Landesman, operating under the pseudonym of Hieronymus Lorm to escape persecution, developed a language for the deaf and blind to communicate. Six years after his death, in 1908, the touch alphabet was released by his daughter.
Based on Lorm, a lab in the University of Arts Berlin started developing a prototype of a glove that transmits language into text. In a few simple steps, communication is possible:
- Wearing the Mobile Lorm Glove and a Bluetooth device halfway up the forearm, a speaker can begin the process.
- Using different patterns, a range of punctuation marks are also transmittable, in addition to letters.
- The Bluetooth device then transmits the text to the speaker’s cell phone.
- The phone sends a text message (SMS) to the listener’s cell phone.
- When the message reaches the listener, it may be transmitted via a Lorm Glove worn by the listener.
- Vibrating nodes on the back of the unit inform the listener of the message.
Of course, listeners may simply read the text message if they have sight, due to the compatibility with cell phones. However, communication isn’t limited to just a sender and a listener: multiple listeners with the Mobile Lorm Glove and cell phones may receive the message.
Implications of the Mobile Lorm Glove
The glove is certainly a revolutionary step in the Lorm language. Due to the lack of being able to communicate at a distance, the Mobile Lorm Glove bridges the cap on a previously unseen weakness.
However, there is a planned feature announced by the team: the incorporation of direct speech input and output. This feature, planned for the next phase of development, will allow for an increase in efficiency.
With the introduction of direct speech input, educational settings could certainly benefit. For instance, researchers have noted the feasibility of using the device in classes, as the Mobile Lorm Glove can involve many recipients.
What will the effect of the Mobile Lorm Glove have on its community? While it is risky to give high praise to such a new device, it is difficult to not move in this direction.
- The unit solves an old shortcoming of the Lorm language – communication at a distance.
- Students, both young and old, can experience education in a whole new manner.
- The researchers state that it will be possible to “feel e-books or audio books.”
The results could be staggering. Implications on communications and independence on the deaf and blind community are strengthened with this new, developing technology.
Overall, this piece of technology, which is still in the prototype stage, represents a unique step in technology for the deaf and blind community. While text-to-speech technology has been around for some time, the Mobile Lorm Glove meets a unique set of challenges for communication in the community.
The Mobile Lorm Glove appears to be a revolutionary piece of technology that can bridge the gap between the deaf and blind community, and the world. Its development could aid this community and others as a unique technological feat.
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That’s great. Technology really help for us, at least those minority not being ignored.
Considering that virtually no one in the US and only a small number of people in the world know or need to know about Lorm, this is a sad misuse of the scarce resource we might pub into deafblindness. Deaf-blind people have all sort of ways to text, from the DBC Deaf-Blind Communicator, to accessible iPhones, and other options that take advantage of modern tech — not ancient ideas of how deaf-blind people should communicate.
There types of devices are always being invented, like the mechanical fingerspelling device that wasted hundreds-of-thousands of dollars to develop that no one ever used. If the tech folks only spent some real time in the community this waste of funds wouldn’t happen.
Yes they are developing a gadget which needs large sum of funds but then again they are researching to help, In my opinion, they are not wasting funds in here, before commencing a research, they have formulated plans way ahead, may be how much fund they are going to use, conduct “feasibility studies” and other necessary things to do. And of course they are researching to surpass the present technology, if there exist a similar gadget, they should do everything to have a much more superior one.
I agree with Gene above. How many people even know about Lorm? Will it have to be learned in order to take advantage of the glove?
these kind of research and innovative technologies are never waste of money. This can be hardly termed as waste money. the billion of dollar that is spend of defense and warfare is waste of money. if we cannot see the importance of such PROTOTYPES then we are the real blind people
Thanks for all the great comments. This is just one of many devices developed to aid those with visual and hearing impairments. I agreed with Bryan that these kind of research and technologies are never a waste of time. Not all of them will be revolutionary but without the research and development we would have nothing.
This is a great piece of technology these are the type of advancements that are beneficial to society and aren’t a waste of money. This is great that not only the deaf but blind will be able to utilize a feature to communicate with the rest of society. Nice article Tyler
The video was just sooo cool… I am totally in love with the developers of this technology ! 🙂 🙂