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Baer, J. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Baer, J. A..

A tactile-output paging communication system for the deaf-blind

A radio frequency paging communication system that has coded vibrotactile outputs suitable for use by deaf-blind people was developed. In concept, the system consists of a base station transmitting and receiving unit and many on-body transmitting and receiving units. The completed system has seven operating modes: fire alarm; time signal; repeated single character Morse code; manual Morse code; emergency aid request; operational status test; and message acknowledge. The on-body units can be addressed in three ways: all units; a group of units; or an individual unit. All the functions developed were integrated into a single package that can be worn on the user's wrist. The control portion of the on-body unit is implemented by a microcomputer. The microcomputer is packaged in a custom-designed hybrid circuit to reduce its physical size.

Baer, J. A.

A tactile paging system for deaf-blind people, phase 2

Control logic and the on-body radio transmitter is investigated. The control logic capability and studied methods for implementing the on-body portion of the logic in a small package are improved. A small low power, on-body transmitter was designed, developed, and tested with a wrist-strap antenna to extend the one-way communication system developed during Phase 1 to a two-way communication system.

Baer, J. A.

A tactile paging system for deaf-blind people, phase 1

A tactile paging system for deaf-blind people has been brought from the concept stage to the development of a first model. The model consists of a central station that transmits coded information via radio link to an on-body (i.e., worn on the wrist) receiving unit, the output from which is a coded vibrotactile signal. The model is a combination of commercially available equipment, customized electronic circuits, and electromechanical transducers. The paging system facilitates communication to deaf-blind clients in an institutional environment as an aid in their training and other activities. Several subunits of the system were individually developed, tested, and integrated into an operating system ready for experimentation and evaluation. The operation and characteristics of the system are described and photographs are shown.

Baer, J. A.

Ferrite logic reliability study

Development and use of digital circuits called all-magnetic logic are reported. In these circuits the magnetic elements and their windings comprise the active circuit devices in the logic portion of a system. The ferrite logic device belongs to the all-magnetic class of logic circuits. The FLO device is novel in that it makes use of a dual or bimaterial ferrite composition in one physical ceramic body. This bimaterial feature, coupled with its potential for relatively high speed operation, makes it attractive for high reliability applications. (Maximum speed of operation approximately 50 kHz.)

Baer, J. A.