Project Description

Assistive technologies play a crucial role in improving access to information and communication for visually impaired and other specially abled individuals. Conventional refreshable Braille displays and haptic interfaces are often expensive, mechanically complex, and limited in scalability. A programmable thermal display offers a fundamentally different approach by generating localized temperature patterns that can be perceived through touch, enabling the formation of letters, numbers, symbols, and tactile graphics on a compact electronic surface. Such a system has the potential to be integrated into tablet-like devices, providing an affordable and portable platform for inclusive digital interaction.
The objective of the present project is to develop a programmable thermal display by incorporating an array of Laser Induced Graphene (LIG) microheaters, specifically with application to help visually impaired and specially abled users, capable of rendering text and simple graphics through controlled heat patterns. The project will involve the design and fabrication of a thermal pixel matrix, development of MOSFET-based driver electronics and raster-scanning control algorithms, and experimental characterization of temperature uniformity, response time, and user safety. Ultimately, the work aims to demonstrate a portable heat-screen prototype that can be incorporated into tablet-like assistive devices to enable accessible reading, communication, and tactile interaction.