Saint Louis Science Center Einstein Society members marveled at the possibilities of touch and motion technology on a special tour of Saint Louis University’s CHROME (Collaborative Haptics, Robotics, and Mechatronics) Lab in September.
Offered as part of the ongoing Science on the Move series connecting Einstein Society members with St. Louis’ thriving science and innovation scene, the afternoon invited guests into the Sinquefield Science and Engineering Center on SLU’s campus to witness STEM in action.
Welcomed by Science Center Board of Trustee member Dr. Jenna Gorlewicz—who leads the CHROME Lab and serves as the Associate Dean for Research and Innovation at Saint Louis University—the guests stepped into the lab, where engineers, educators, and clinical practitioners come together to create new technologies that augment human capabilities.
Rotating through six stations, the attendees saw and felt prototypes from the students, asked questions, and got a deeper understanding of how touch and robotics can work together—in particular, how they can help individuals who are blind or visually impaired more easily interact with the world around them.
One student guided the attendees through a simplified demonstration of what those with limited or no sight experience when reading a printed graph using Braille and how that experience can translate to the smooth glass screen of a phone or tablet using audio cues and different vibration patterns.
Other demonstrations included a prototype method of conveying complex graph information using multiple haptic motors worn on a user’s fingers; ways of using vibration patterns to guide a mindfulness breathing exercise; innovations on an “audible hockey puck” for blind hockey players; and more.
Thank you to our Einstein Society members for joining us and to the SLU CHROME Lab team for making this day possible!
See more photos from the day below.
