A novel infrared-controlled telephone communication interface for the disabled

This paper reports on the development of an eyeglass-type infrared-controll ed telephone communication interface for the disabled. This system is compr ised of four major components: A) a headset; B) an infrared transmitting mo dule; C) an infrared receiving/signal-processing module; and D) a main cont roller, the Intel-8951 microprocessor. The headset with a tongue-touch pane l, a wireless earphone, and a wireless microphone. The infrared transmittin g module utilizes a tongue touch panel via tongue-touch circuitry which is converted to an infrared beam and a low power laser (< 0.1 mW) beam. The in frared receiving/signal-processing module, receives the infrared beam and f ine tunes the unstable infrared beam into standard pulses which are used as control signals. The main controller is responsible for detecting the inpu t signals from the infrared receiving/signal-processing module and verifyin g these signals with the mapping table in its memory. After the signal is v erified, it is released to control the keys of the telephone interface. Thi s design concept was mainly based on the idea that the use of an infrared r emote module fastened to the eyeglasses could allow the convenient control of the dialing motion on the keys of a telephone's dialing-pad which are al l modified with infrared receiving/signal-processing modules. The disabled are competent for some of work, such as a telephone operator. The increase of opportunity to do a job for the disabled would help them live independen tly.