WO1993003468A1

WO1993003468A1 - Method and devices of communication by the sense of touch

Info

Publication number: WO1993003468A1
Application number: PCT/GR1992/000014
Authority: WO
Inventors: A. Panagiotis Anagnostopoulos
Original assignee: Anagnostopoulos A Panagiotis
Priority date: 1991-08-05
Filing date: 1992-07-31
Publication date: 1993-02-18
Also published as: EP0570538A1; GR1000807B

Abstract

The invention refers to a communication method, that is transmission and reception of information, between user and data processing and transferring device or between users, which is characterised by the use of the sense of touch only, in as much as the transmission and reception of information are concerned, and more specifically, for the transmission of information a particular device is utilised, which bears protruded guides, which guide the user's finger or another objet in order to trace the alphanumeric characters or symbols to be transmitted, whilst for the reception of information a particular device is utilised, which is placed in contact with the user's skin and irritates the skin linearly, or at points or at surfaces, forming, thus, on the skin the alphanumeric characters or symbols to be transmitted.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICES OF COMMUNICATION BY THE SENSE OF TOUCH

The invention refers to a communication method, that is transmission and reception of information, between user and data processing and transferring device or between users, which is characterised by the use of the sense of touch only, in as much as the transmission and reception of information are concerned, and more specifically, for the transmission of information a particular device is utilised, which bears protruded guides, which guide the user's finger or another object in order to trace the alphanumeric characters or symbols to be transmitted, whilst for the reception of information a particular device is utilised, which is placed in contact with the user's skin and irritates the skin linearly, or at points or at surfaces, forming, thus, on the skin the alphanumeric characters or symbols to be transmitted.

STATE-OF-THE-ART

For the reception of messages, the user, in most cases, makes use of the vision and hearing senses. The user, in order to conceive the information transmitted to him/her, needs to receive it on a display or elsewhere, or to hear it (e.g. from a receiver in case of a telephone). Only in special cases (e.g. when blind people are involved) for the reception of information, the sense of touch is used. However, a feature and disadvantage of this latter method of receiving information is the fact that the user has to actively participate in the reception procedure. That is, the user has to pass his/her fingers over the embossed text in order to "edit" the information and data. A necessary preparation is, of course, required prior to providing the user with information in legible form.

For the transmission of data from user to user, the optical or acoustic transmission of information is almost exclusively used. On special occasions (e.g. exchange of messages between sailing vessels, messages to the pilots of aircrafts on runways etc. ) the movement of special signals is used for the optical transmission of instructions and information. Finally, all those special ways are addressed to the sense of vision of the addressee and consist optical instructions or data. Moreover, the majority of the state- of-the-art systems used in the transmission of data and information from the user to the data processing systems (e.g. word processors, personal computers, typewriters, telexes), is based on the use of the conventional keyboard. To each key of the said keyboard, there is one character or number or symbol corresponding. It is also common to have other characters corresponding to the same keys by pressing a special key. Therefore, when the user wishes to transmit data, by pressing the proper keys, he/she forms texts, numbers etc. which are transformed in the language understandable by the system e.g. binary characters for a processing unit or telex characters or Morse code signals.

The use of the conventional keyboard is widely spread and solely on special occasions other systems are used. Such special occasions are the drafting units of engineering, electrical or other designs and in general the units that require graphical representations as data. In this case a small device (mouse) is used, which enables the insertion of graphical data and information.

The other systems, presently used, are at experimental stages and concern- acoustic data transmission (voice identification units). The said units, however, cannot be used by any type of voice, whilst the more advanced ones require learning of the user's voice. Finally, some known systems, that appear to undergo significant research, are mentioned herebelow:

(a) " ightpen", connected to a processing unit, employed by the user for writing common texts. The movement of lightpen's writing ball, is monitored by the processor and thus the written characters are identified.

(b) The Data Bank of Casio Corp. is a similar system, using a board, on which the user "writes" 48 characters in total, which are then identified by the device and appear on a display.

(c) The third system is an experimental arrangement, where the user, through special optical devices, views the characters he/she desires to write on the screen and the characters are automatically written and identified by the data processing unit. This device identifies the direction that the user's head and eyes move to and therefore the character aimed at.

Disadvantages of these systems are the following:

The communication device used, almost always, accompanies the respective system. Thus, the user is always required to communicate through a specific unit corresponding to the particular system, that is, the keyboard, the mouse, the lightpen etc., which are continuously connected with a data processing system and they consist an integral part thereof.

Although the arrangement of keys, in the case of conventional keyboard, has been standardised, a certain training period is essential before the user is able to fluently use the unit in order to communicate with the system. Apart from that, a tutorial procedure is required when different characters and symbols correspond to the same keys, e.g. on a keyboard with latin characters, greek characters correspond as well. In these cases, more time is required for learning the new system.

The said disadvantages increasingly influence the automation of devices for the processing and transmission of information, whereas nations with languages of different characters need the information sciences, and inhabitants and professionals of limited educational level require the use of similar systems. Examples of the first case consist the Far East countries, as well as the countries with Slavonic or Cyrillic alphabets, whilst examples of the second case consist the farmers, the stock-breeders and the small professionals who desire to be connected to trade centres or databases.

Another disadvantage of those systems is that they usually require specific space and environment in order to transmit the data. Good lighting conditions and appropriate space, such as an office, are almost always required for the data transmission. In order to verify the correctness of data, the user edits them on a computer screen or on a print-out. Every system requires stable conditions, whilst the more advanced ones require a noise-free environment. Thus, it is unthinkable to use similar systems in motion and in a humid environment or an environment full of vibrations (e.g. moving vehicle) and noises or in case that the user does not stand still (e.g. sitting at his desk) but lies down on his/her bed or on an arm-chair, walks or supervises.

Another disadvantage of those systems is that the data transmission requires a simultaneous reception by the system. Therefore, for example, when a keyboard is used the data are, almost always, simultaneously transmitted from the user to the system and are available for further processing or transmission. This procedure requires the physical presence of the user near the system he/she wants to communicate with. The use of telephone line connections for the data transmission, simply transposes the same disadvantage.

The lack of guides to direct the finger or the lightpen or the mouse, depending on the applied system, allows the user to insert personal features (i.e. type of handwriting, letter starting location) during characters' "writing". This type of UNCONSCIOUS writing constitutes a significant disadvantage of the aforementioned systems since it creates errors (e.g. CASIO Data Bank) as long as it does not assist (guide) the user to trace the characters.

The majority of units used for the data transmission is sensitive and very complicated mechanisms. Finally, the use of special communication units for certain devices, constitutes a constraining factor for the extent and size of message they can accept e.g. the communication of the user with the telephone device is effected only through dialing ten figures.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims at eliminating the abovementioned disadvantages providing a method of registration and transmission of characters or symbols and a method of reception of characters or symbols based on the sense of touch and, particularly, for the reception of information in the form of skin irritation linearly, at points or at surfaces, by means of skin pressure or heat, either positive or negative. More specifically, for the transmission of information, a device bearing a surface with protruded guides, that direct the finger or other objects is utilised. These guides (in a first embodiment they are identations and in a second embodiment they are protrusions) form a simple arrangement as in Figure (1) . The shape of the fingers allows the complete or partial formation of characters or symbols, which the user requires to transmit, by means of finger tracing. An example of such a character formation is shown in Figure (2). On top of the guides there are sensors that mark and transmit the finger's passage over them, so that finally the activation sequence of the sensors marks and transmits the charactered traced by the finger of the user.

In a preferred embodiment, the device bears a memory unit for the temporary storage of the text, a special slot for the transmission of data which are registered in either directly or from the memory unit, and the special protection against mechanical, thermal or chemical wear.

The advantages of the present method are the following:

(a) the use of the device does not require particular practice but any person that knows how to write may immediately use the device.

(b) the same device is used to write in more than one languages with different alphabet, since the general arrangement of the grooves allows the imprinting of characters of any alphabet whatsoever.

(c) the existence of guides for directing the finger or any other objects used, guarantees the correct imprinting of characters since it does not allow the user to write UNCONSCIOUSLY and diminishes the possibility of the user's personal handwriting interference. In case this is annoying to the user, the inner parts of the grooves may be elastic, in one embodiment, or in a second embodiment the supporting base of the device may not be completely solid, so that the inner parts of the grooves or the device itself "follow", by guiding the finger or any other object of the user in short motions.

(d) the use of the said device for the transmission of information does not require user's approach to the device he/she wants to communicate with, and which may be a device for reception of information by the sense of touch, a computer, facsimile, telex etc. It is possible to temporarily store the information in the memory unit, where the transfer to the subject device takes place from.

(e) since the device does not require movement of its parts i.e. pressure on a keyboard or activation of a receiver or anything else, it is perfectly protected against mechanical. thermal or chemical wear. For this reason, it may be applied in any environment e.g. with noises, vibrations, humidity etc.

(f) as long as the method requires the passing of a finger or an object over certain points, it is possible to have it used to write symbols that do not belong to a known alphabet. In practice, every user may invent his/her. own type of alphabet to transmit a message, whilst the decoding is accomplished by a simple software method.

(g) the said method may be standardised for the transmission of information to any device, so that the user who owns the subject transmission device may communicate with a variety of systems of the same group.

(h) another advantage of the present device is that, by being heavily protected, it may be used as an information storing unit, which is protected against wear prior to be edited (black box).

(i) the use of the subject method expands further the communication field between man and machine, wherever it is presently limited e.g. telephones, telegraph etc.

(j) the fact that the same unit may be used for more alphabets, facilitates the communication between people of different countries as well as their commercial, touristic, professional and political connection. The inhabitant of a country by using his/her personal device may communicate with systems in another country. It is only required to adjust the software of the devices in order to identify the special characteristics of each alphabet.

In a first embodiment, for the reception of information, one uses a device that consists of a board with internal grooves, where sliding guides that cause skin irritation lineraly or at points or at surfaces, by pressure and heat in order to transmit characters or figures (Figure 4a) . Examples of character formation by the sensation of pressure, are shown in Figure (5). In a second embodiment, the board comes into contact with a certain part of the user's skin (i.e. arm, thigh, inner palm etc.) On the board, dots are arranged in a certain form (e.g. Figure 4b) , that become activated following a particular sequence and causing irritation at points of the skin, by means of pressure or heat, transmitting thus characters or symbols by the sense of touch, in proportion to the dot matrix printers technique.

Advantages of the device are the following:

(a) it provides information not only through the figure or the symbol it transmits, but through the formation method and the sequence of pins for the formation of the symbol or the character. Thus, information is transmitted by the dynamic motion of the figure or character formation. An example of such a use is the transmission of direction instructions to the drivers of vehicles that possess a navigation system, where the motion of the vehicle is predetermined by the pin activation sequence, for example, or the driver activation to perform a manoeuvre. Figure (5) represents such direction instructions (e.g. driving around a square, turn right etc. ) . The dynamic motion for the formation of characters applies either on the direct reception of information or on the editing of information stored in the memory unit.

(b) passive message and information reception. Until now, for the reception of information by the sense of touch, the active participation of the user and the tracing of the object "to be edited", were required.

(c) no special training for the use of the device is required, other than knowledge of the alphanumeric characters and symbols being transmitted. (d) the same device is used on the reception of information in more than one languages or characters.

(e) the method and device may be used for the reception of signals that cannot be expressed by specific characters

(e.g. geometrical figures).

(f) the reception of messages is achieved in any position or movement of the body and under any environmental conditions, whatsoever, i.e. noise, vibration, swimming, insufficient lighting etc. Thus, the device may be used by divers for the underwater communication between them or with the surface, by car or motorcycle drivers for the message reception, by battle units, by parachuters etc.

(g) other advantages of the device are those concerning individuals with special needs. Irrespectively of the kind of their affliction, the touch is the only sense that always remain in use by the man. Therefore, the said devices may always be used by such individuals for communication purposes.

THE USE OF THE METHOD & DEVICES

The applications of the information transmission and reception devices, are presented herebelow:

1. Word processing. The information transmission device is used for word processing of texts that are later transmitted in a word processing unit or a conventional electronic typewriter. In a first embodiment, the transmission device is combined with a word processing system which has a thesaurus and a spell-checker facility. In a second embodiment, the thesaurus (vocabulary) and the software concerning the spelling check are installed in the transmission device.

2. Connection to a telephone device (Figure 7). In this application, the data transmission unit substitutes by the sense of touch the use of telephone rotatable disc (dial) or 10-figure keyboard. For the purpose of calling another subscriber up, the user has two options:

(a) Either to trace the number of the subscriber he/she wishes to communicate with.

(b) Or to trace on the device (using the sense of touch) the name or any other particular of the subscriber (e.g. profession, address etc.). In this application, the particulars are inserted as data in the microprocessor unit which is supplemented by a database. Thus, if another particular of the subscriber is traced (e.g. name), the microprocessor identifies in the database the number to be called which is automatically dialed.

In the said second application, for the purpose of registration in the database, the user traces various particulars of the subscribers and registers them in the database, connecting them to the number to be called. Thus, he/she possesses a personal list, from which the registered subscriber may be called by the name, address or other particulars. On this point it is stated that the conventional devices bearing a memory unit, simply substitute the telephone number of a subscriber by another number (easier to be memorised) . The great advantage of this application is that it is much easier for someone to remember names and characters than sequences of numbers.

3. The data transmission unit and method are used as a stenography unit for special reasons and under special circumstances, such as for press coverage of events, court sessions, night operation, driving, registration in secrecy with the device in the pocket, in case of lack of lighting and in spaces where noises are forbidden, when discretion is necessary, when no paper or pencil are available, when other persons in the area should not be disturbed etc. 4. The device for reception of information is combined with a device of optical or wave-form area detection (e.g. video receiving device - video camera - microwave radar - supersonic beam - infrared radiation beam etc. ) . The space detection device is connected with the information reception device, in such a way that the image of the environment is "converted" into skin irritations (through the pins). The image of the surrounding area is transformed by known image processing techniques into a filtered black and white "image" or (0 - 1, ON-OFF) etc. These techniques are considered to be known and therefore they are not described in the present application. The "filtered" image is transformed, through the device using the sense of touch (touch-device), into sensations e.g. pressure for the ON area and non-pressure for the OFF area. The activation of keys (see the embodiment chapter) is simultaneous in order to have the "image" of the surrounding area impressed on the skin. It is understood that the resolution of the so formed image on the skin becomes higher as the number of the available keys increases (Figure 8).

The said device applies on the guidance of blind people or people moving in areas with complete obscurity. In the second case the area is detected through wave-form (e.g. using microwave radar). In order to enable those persons' movement, the device informs about the kind of street, the height of possible obstacles, the distance of obstacles, the motion of obstacles (e.g. of vehicles to enable safe crossing of the road), speed and direction of obstacle motion etc. In another embodiment, the device simply informs the user about the movements or the manoeuvres he/she has to perform without advice on the image appearing ahead. Thus, a blind person, for example, during his/her movement on a road network is informed of the direction he/she should move towards, if he/she should stop or cross a road, the position standing at within the town etc. The device is especially useful in enclosed areas such as apartments or house, where the obstacles are big (walls, furniture) or are easily traced on the touch-device.

5. The said device, for the purpose of receiving messages, is combined with a receiver and the device of message transmission is combined with a transmitter. It is thus allowed to communicate from a distance, using the sense of touch, with blind people that cannot receive visually the information or move in an environment unfit for visual or acoustic message transmission. The receiver of the information receiving device, by the sense of touch, receives messages from an outdoor transmitter network (e.g. location transmitter for a vehicle navigation system) . In this way, the reception of a transmitter signal by the receiver of the touch-device signifies that the bearer of the device is located in the transmitter area. The receiver - touch-device system for the reception of information, is combined with a processing unit and a database allowing the routing and navigation of the person within a certain area e.g. a rural centre (Figure 9).

The user is informed of the course to follow by touch sensation (see embodiment chapter) . In the same application for the crossing of roads with traffic lights, the database includes the time duration that the traffic lights remain green or red (WALK - NO WALK). Thus, on approaching to a traffic light, by checking the exact time it is concluded whether crossing is safe or not. The use of this system by persons with special needs (blind, deaf-and-dumb etc.) is extremely useful. The said persons by using the device of information transmission are able to transmit a variety of messages which, combined with the installed network, facilitate their movement in the rural centres e.g. calling a taxi, distress S.O.S. signal, communication with other bearing the same device etc.

6. Another application of the touch-device for information receiving is the multiple information transmission to the user from different accesses. The method provides for many touch-devices installed on various spots of the body, each one inserting data for a different parameter. This application serves people which are obliged to consider a lot of parameters in order to perform a certain work (such as pilots of modern military aircrafts during restraining manoeuvres, operators of offshore drilling platforms) . In these cases, only the use of vision and hearing senses is not sufficient to transmit all the various information or information distinguished from each other (on the screen all data is of equal importance. The touch-devices connect each parameter with a certain spot of the body. Thus, the distinction of data and parameters is more intense, e.g. from the arm originates the indication on speed, from the thigh originates the indication on artificial horizon bank etc. )

7. The devices and the method are used in any environment and under any circumstances. They are of great importance to drivers who possess a navigation system as they may register or transmit data when the vehicle is in motion. Thus the driver communicates with the in-vehicle computer (or the laptop) and requests, using the sense of touch, information about pharmacies, petrol stations, hospitals, police stations etc., without his/her attention on the road being distracted, even in case of limited lighting or acoustic (e.g. during the passage of vehicles with siren or trucks).

8. Communication unit for persons with special needs. As the method is only based on the sense of touch, it is very useful for persons with special needs. An exceptional communication ability is provided to blind, deaf-and-dumb, invalid, elderly and other people that have suffered a partial or almost total paralysis (only one finger suffices to transmit information) . For example, there is no longer needed to print-out special books for the blind people, as long as the connection of the information receiving device with a personal computer, for editing any book on a diskette (video-touch) is sufficient. 9. The present method and the data transmission device are used for the storage and protection of information against any kind of wear, a kind of black box, aiming at safety and protection of user's valuable data, since, being a portable device, it replaces the use of a portable tape-recorder or note book.

10. The transmission and reception devices constitute units of communication between the user and every data transmission system. Thus, it may be connected with and transmit information by facsimile, telex, modem etc. as well as to receive similar messages and transmit them to the user in an audio, visual or using the sense of touch way.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

1. Device for the transmission of information

In a first embodiment, the device consists of a small rectangular board on one side of which there are grooves wherein the finger or any other article of the user moves. The grooves are arranged as shown in Figure 1, which is formed by the superposition of a cross, an X and a square. At the meeting points of the grooves, there are transition detectors. In a first embodiment, these are touch switches and in a second one they are photocells. Thus, when the finger or other article passes from the grooves and forms a figure, it activates the respective detectors and their signal is transmitted to the transfer and processing unit. Thus, by the movement of the finger on the grooves, characters, numbers, symbols etc. (Figure 2) may be formed. In a second embodiment, instead of grooves, there are embossed straight protrusions that show the courses that the finger or any other articles should follow. The finger moves on those protrusions and traces the characters as required. More specifically, the function of the device is as follows:

In positions inside the grooves or on the protrusions, there are sensors that are activated when a solid or visually non- transparent body passes over them. In a first embodiment, these sensors may be piezoelectric cells or, in a second embodiment, photovoltaic cells, or, in a third embodiment, proximeters. Each one of those sensors is connected with a memory unit and a microprocessing unit of low standards and small dimensions, that accepts the signals of the sensors and identifies the characters written (Figure 3). This is accomplished as follows:

Each sensor activates an encoder that inserts a code number to the microprocessor. This code number corresponds to the subject sensor, so that each sensor may insert a certain code number in the microprocessing unit. The microprocessor identifies the character written by the sequence of code numbers. A slight strike on the point where the character ends, signifies the end of character transmission. Two slight strikes at the end of the character signify the end of word transmission. Thereafter, the said character is directly transferred to the device which the user wants to communicate with, through a special plug or it is temporarily stored in the memory unit. Thus, when the finger forms a symbol passing through the grooves on the board, the activation of the sensors, through which the finger passes, results to the transmission towards the device or to the storage in the memory unit of the formed character.

In order to verify the written character, immediately upon its identification, an acoustic signal, relevant to the character or number written,, is transmitted. The same character is visually verified (e.g. by a small light or an LCD of one-character) and by the sense of touch through a receiver for safer verification. Thus, instead of the visual verification that other systems possess, in this case we have visual, acoustic and by the sense of touch identification. The fact that the user's attention is not distracted, consists an advantage of the method. In case of error, there is a backspace option indicated by a distinctive signal (e.g. a horizontal line from the right to the left). In a second embodiment of the invention, the character written is acoustically transmitted by the microprocessor. An example of characters and words that can be written using the board is shown in Figure (2) . In Figure (1), the general arrangement of the grooves and the position of sensors are shown.

2. Touch-device for signal and message reception

This device is in a first embodiment relevant to the touch- device for the transmission of messages (Figure 4a) with the exception that the grooves or the solid protrusions consist of elastic protrusions on the inner surface where a guide slides electromagnetically activated. The sense of guide movement on the skin corresponds to the finger passage in the first touch-device. The function of the first embodiment is the same with the one for the transmission of information from the user, but instead of the finger passage sensors there are guide transfer coils (Figure 4a) . This device comes into contact with certain points of the arm or the thigh or other spots of the user's body. In a first embodiment, the board includes a strip and is placed like a simple watch around the wrist or may be fixed around the thigh transmitting messages through the clothes.

In a second embodiment, there are pins on the plate arranged as in Figure (4b) which are activated by the microprocessor in a certain sequence. Each pin constitutes a key which is electromagnetically activated by the main processor and presses the point of the thigh or the arm it comes into contact with. By an adequate number of pins, any character, whatsoever, may be represented in proportion to the formation of characters by dot matrix printers. Figure (5) presents examples of touching signals during the second embodiment of the method, whilst Figure (6) presents an embodiment of the key activation method. As in the case of the device for information transmitted by the user, to each key of the device there is one corresponding encoder which is activated upon reception of a triggering signal. The encoder controls a circuit of higher voltage for the electromagnetic transfer of the driver. In a second embodiment, the encoder controls the circuit of higher voltage that electromagnetically activates each key.

Characteristics of the present invention that also constitute its advantages are the following:

(a) it permits both the editing of alphanumeric characters and signals, as well as of their formation method. This is particularly useful for guidance instructions by a vehicle navigation system, where the course that has to be set by the vehicle is schematically represented by the sequence of key activation (Figure 5) or the drivers.

(b) in the spirit of the invention, there is an irritation on a point of the skin, not only through the pins or pressure guides, but with sensations of temperature, air flow vibrations etc. by the appropriate thermal guides or pins or with controlled air flow or vibration in a certain tone etc.

(c) in the spirit of the invention, there is pin or guide activation, not only in a sequence for the formation of characters or instruction diagrams but for the message transmission by any other code, such as a binary code like Morse with characters recognising the existence or non- existence of a sensation.

(d) the receiver, in a first embodiment, is connected through a cable network to the device it communicates with. For the unobstructed manoeuvring, however, the pin or guide activation is provided, in a second embodiment, to be accomplished from a distance without interference of conductors. This feature allows the use of the device as a wireless message transmission means.

Claims

CLA I MS

1. A communication method, that is transmission and reception of information, between user and data processing and transferring device or between users, which is characterised by the use of the sense of touch only, in as much as the transmission and reception of information are concerned, and more specifically, for the transmission of information a particular device is utilised, which bears protruded guides, which guide the user's finger or another object in order to trace the alphanumeric characters or symbols to be transmitted, whilst for the reception of information a particular device is utilised, which is placed in contact with the user's skin and irritates the skin linearly, or at points or at surfaces, forming, thus, on the skin the alphanumeric characters or symbols to be transmitted.

2. A Method, as in Claim 1, wherein only the sense of touch is used for the transmission of data and information from the user to the device.

3. A Method and a device as in Claim 1, wherein for the transmission of data and information, symbols and characters of any nature and form are used.

4. A Method as in Claim 1, which is characterised by the tracing, on the part of the user by using the sense of touch, of characters and symbols that constitute the data or the information to be transmitted.

5. A Device as in Claim 1 for the data transfer, which consists of a board of small dimensions (Figure 1), on which protruded grooves are arranged in such a form that any character and symbol of the common alphabets and symbols presently in use, can be formed when the finger is passing through. The figure is formed by the superposition of a cross, an X and a square.

6. A Device as in Claim 1, wherein instead of grooves protrusions are used for finger guidance.

7. A Device as in Claim 5, wherein the grooves on the side of the board form a figure and when the fingers pass through those grooves, characters and symbols of special use, such as musical notes, may be traced.

8. A Device as in Claim 5, wherein the used board bears on both sides grooves for tracing, where said sides are used, for the transfer of data in two different types of symbols, one for each side.

9. A Device as in Claim 5, wherein alongside and inside the tracing grooves, there are sensors being activated when finger passes over them.

10. Sensors as in Claim 9, which consist of proximeters, being activated by the finger's approaching.

11. Sensors as in Claim 9, which consist of photoelectric cells, being activated by the variation of lighting upon finger passing.

12. Sensors as in Claim 9, which consist of piezoelectric arrangements being activated upon the processing of the finger.

13. Sensors as in Claim 9, which consist of microswitches which are switched off as soon as the finger passes through them.

14. A Device as in Claim 9, wherein the sensors are connected with encoders so that as soon as the encoders are activated, they transmit the code which corresponds to each sensor.

15. Encoders as in Claim 14, wherein the code transmitted when the sensor is activated, corresponds to a binary number.

16. A Device as in Claim 5, wherein the encoders are connected to a processing unit, which, as a result of the sequence of incoming code numbers, forms the character and stores it in the memory unit, which is connected to it, and transmits the character directly to the device that the.user wishes to communicate with.

17. A Microprocessor as in Claim 16, wherein the user is warned by a corresponding sound, as soon as the character formed is identified.

18. A Microprocessor as in Claim 16, wherein as soon as the formed character is identified, the user is acoustically informed thereof.

19. A Microprocessor as in Claim 16, wherein as soon as the formed character is identified, the user is visually informed thereof.

20. A Microprocessor as in Claim 16, wherein as soon as the formed character is identified, the user is informed thereof by the sense of touch, through the receiver.

21. A Device as in Claim 1, which is highly protected against mechanical, thermal or chemical wear so that everything registered in its memory is maintained intact, under extreme mechanical, thermal or chemical wears.

22. A Device as in Claim 5, wherein the microprocessor is connected through a connecting plug with the device that the user wishes to communicate with.

23. A connecting plug, as in Claim 22, through which characters and symbols may be stored in the memory unit and be announced to the user by synthesised voice.

24. A Device, as in Claim 5, wherein the microprocessor and the memory unit are connected with a transmitter which transmits the signals of the encoders in the sequence they are activated by the sensors when the fingers pass over them.

25. A Device as in Claim 5, wherein the microprocessor is connected to the receiver which receives code numbers identical to the ones of the encoders inside the device, and forms, through them, characters and symbols that in turn are either vocally announced to the user or stored in the memory unit.

26. A Method for the reception of signals, data and information that uses the sense of touch, without user's active participation in the "editing" procedure.

27. A Method, as in Claim 26, for the embodiment of which a board is used that comes into contact with the user's skin.

28. A Board, as in Claim 27, bearing pins arranged in a particular form, which are activated in a certain sequence, irritating locally the skin.

29. Pins for the creation of irritations, as in Claim 28, wherein the latters are of high or low pressure, high or low temperature, with or without air flow.

30. A Plate, as in Claim 29, wherein guides sliding internally and moving on a membrane, being in contact with the skin, create linear sensation.

31. A Device, as in Claim 27, that comes into contact with the skin being connected to an image processing unit, wherein the image or the area are "filtered" and then represented by ON-OFF pressure sensations.

32. Touch-Devices for the reception of information, as in Claim 27, placed on various points of the body for multiple data and information reception from the user and quick learning.

33. A Device, as in Claim 27, for the reception of information by the sense of touch, complemented by a receiver, a main processor and a database for the routing and guidance of individuals in urban centres covered by supporting location transmitters.

34. A touch-device, as in Claim 27, for the reception of messages, wherein the connection with a processor and a database are used for "editing", by the sense of touch, of texts or books registered in the memory units.

35. A Device for the transmission of data by the sense of touch, as in Claim 5, wherein in the case of a telephone device it replaces the dial or the keyboard for calling a subscriber, by tracing the telephone number, the name, the address or any other particular thereof.