Presentation of dynamic tactile and visual color information

Abstract

Approaches for dynamic tactile and visual color presentation of information are provided. Specifically, provided is a first substrate comprising a plurality of individually addressable cells each including an electrically-active material capable of changing shape in response to an electrical current; a second substrate coupled to the first substrate, the second substrate comprising a plurality of individually addressable cells each including an electrically-active material capable of changing color in response to an electrical current; and an electrical network for delivering an electrical current to each of the plurality of individually addressable cells. Either the first or the second substrate is formed atop an object. When the electrical current is supplied, each of the plurality of individually addressable cells of the first substrate exhibits a desired shape, and each of the individually addressable cells of the second substrate exhibits a desired color to demonstrate a customized appearance of the object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for providing information to a user, the device comprising:
 a first substrate comprising a plurality of individually addressable cells, each individually addressable cell including an electrically-active material capable of changing shape in response to an electrical current;   a second substrate coupled to the first substrate, the second substrate comprising a plurality of individually addressable cells, each individually addressable cell including an electrically-active material capable of changing color in response to an electrical current; and   an electrical network connected to, and capable of delivering an electrical current to, each of the plurality of individually addressable cells of the first substrate and the second substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first substrate is formed atop an artificial human body part. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of individually addressable cells of the first substrate and the second substrate are arranged in an array. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a membrane atop the second substrate, the membrane capable of relaying the change in shape of the electrically-active material of the first substrate and the color of the electrically-active material of the second substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the membrane includes a silicone material. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver for receiving information capable of presentation to the user via the plurality of individually addressable cells of the first substrate and the second substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of individually addressable cells of the first substrate and the second substrate further includes an oil. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically-active material includes an alloy of samarium and cobalt. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of individually addressable cells of the first substrate is independently capable of a range of changes in shape, and wherein each of the individually addressable cells of the second substrate is independently capable of a range of changes in color. 
     
     
         10 . A system for providing dynamic tactile and visual color presentation of information to a user, the system comprising:
 a first substrate comprising a plurality of individually addressable cells, each individually addressable cell including an electrically-active material capable of changing shape in response to an electrical current;   a second substrate atop the first substrate, the second substrate comprising a plurality of individually addressable cells, each individually addressable cell including an electrically-active material capable of changing color in response to an electrical current;   memory operably associated with at least one processing unit; and   an electrical network connected to, and capable of receiving computer instructions from the at least one processing unit for delivering an electrical current to, each of the plurality of individually addressable cells of the first substrate and the second substrate.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising an artificial human body part having formed thereon the first substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of individually addressable cells of the first substrate and the second substrate are arranged in an array. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a membrane atop the second substrate, the membrane capable of relaying the change in shape of the electrically-active material of the first substrate and the color of the electrically-active material of the second substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the membrane includes a silicone material. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a receiver for receiving information capable of presentation to a user using the plurality of individually addressable cells of the first substrate and the second substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of individually addressable cells of the first substrate and the second substrate further includes an oil. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the electrically-active material includes an alloy of samarium and cobalt. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of individually addressable cells of the first substrate is independently capable of a range of changes in shape, and wherein each of the individually addressable cells of the second substrate is independently capable of a range of changes in color. 
     
     
         19 . A computer-programmable device for providing information to a user, the device comprising:
 a first substrate comprising a plurality of individually addressable cells arranged in an array, each individually addressable cell including an electrically-active material capable of changing shape in response to an electrical current;   a second substrate atop the first substrate, the second substrate comprising a plurality of individually addressable cells arranged in an array, each individually addressable cell including an electrically-active material capable of changing color in response to an electrical current; and   an electrical network connected to, and capable of delivering an electrical current to, each of the plurality of individually addressable cells of the first substrate and the second substrate.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-programmable device of  claim 19 , further comprising a memory device operably associated with at least one processing unit capable of generating a set of computer instructions to provide a range of changes in shape to the electrically-active material of each of the plurality of individually addressable cells of the first substrate, and to provide a range of changes in color to the electrically-active material of each of the plurality of individually addressable cells of the second substrate.