MagniFinger: Fingertip-Mounted Microscope for Augmenting Human Perception

Authors: Noriyasu Obushi, Sohei Wakisaka, Shunichi Kasahara, Atsushi Hiyama, Masahiko Inami

Abstract

We propose MagniFinger, a fingertip-worn microscopy device that augments the limited abilities of human visual and tactile sensory systems in micrometer-scale environments. MagniFinger makes use of the finger's dexterous motor skills to achieve precise and intuitive control while allowing the user to observe the desired position simply by placing a fingertip. To implement the fingertip-sized device and its tactile display, we have built a system comprising a ball lens, an image sensor, and a thin piezoelectric actuator. Vibration-based tactile feedback is displayed based on the luminance of a magnified image, providing the user with the feeling of touching the magnified world.

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