========================================================= iFeelPixel version 0.9.0 (Support for the Novint Falcon) ========================================================= "iFeelPixel universal multimodal interface access: Visual, Auditory and Haptic sensations" in association with INRIA (The French National Institute for research in Computer Science and Control) Keywords: Visual Feedback, Rumble Feedback, Tactile Feedback, Auditory Feedback, Full Force Feedback, Multimodal Interface, Novint Falcon Release Date: October 29, 2008 (Status: Beta Test open for Novint Falcon Users) (C) Copyright iFeelPixel Association, all rights reserved, protected by: Inter Deposit Digital Number (IDDN) certificate from Agency for the Protection of Programs (R) iFeelPixel is a legal trademark registered at INPI - For more legal informations, please visit: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/about/ - For online help, please visit: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/help/ - For online support, please visit: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/support/ http://www.ifeelpixel.com/forum/ - For online readme, please visit: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/support/readme.txt - You are welcome to contact us at any time: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/mail/ http://www.ifeelpixel.com/mail/mailto.php?software:ifeelpixel.com - Thanks for your interest! For official news, please visit our updated website, our blog or our newsgroup: http://www.ifeelpixel.com http://ifeelpixel.blogspot.com/ http://groups-beta.google.com/group/ifeelpixel =================== Table of Contents =================== 1. Introduction 2. Requirements 2. Installation instructions 3. What's new in this version 4. Known issues 5. Technical support 6. Donation ============== Introduction ============== - It is important to be systematic and to use tactics when exploring a virtual space. Tactile interfaces enable the user to build a cognitive map and they make the screen more concrete. A tactile interface enables the user to improvise and be more creative. - With a haptic computer interface, a blind person can play haptic computer games, learn mathematics by tracing touchable mathematical curves, and gain better access to graphical user interfaces like Windows. - Point interaction haptics: The basic method for calculating forces for the interface is based on point interaction. This means that the user is modeled as a single (infinitesimal) point in the virtual world. This is obviously a simplification but it is still a very common method since it makes the computations simpler while it still affords a very good haptic illusion. - iFeelPixel software makes universally accessible all the web content and graphical environment via the senses of vision, touch and hearing. It is a multimodal human-computer interface designed to create visual, auditory and haptic sensations based on image or pictures elements (Pixel). It offers a multisensory immersive environment for any application (Text, Pictures, Flash movies, Games, 3D ...) - Use this while using your desktop computer, playing games, watching websites, or simply leave it running in the background while using any Windows program. Any pictures elements generated by your computer and being under your cursor position on screen, will be represented with some subjective sensations: - Visual sensation or pseudo-haptic sensation (cursor pointer will move slower or faster on screen) - Auditory sensation (Sound card, internal PC speakers, Narrator voices, MIDI synthesizer) - Haptic sensation (Immersion TouchSense device, Novint Falcon). - iFeelPixel works in parallel with existing access technology regardless of disability: Sighted people can use the visual feedback (pseudo-haptic) to visualize the data while blind and visually impaired people can use the sound or tactile feedback to extract informations. Automatic conversion of graphics to pseudo-haptics and haptics that will make even the pure graphics on the Internet accessible to low vision and blind users. - iFeelPixel is a software that allows a user to feel the pixels on the screen with visual feedback, haptic feedback and auditory feedback at a time. It engages your sense of touch for a more natural, intuitive experience. Feeling is believing! For detailed description and suggestions to try, please visit: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/description/ For screenshots and movies, please visit: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/screenshots/ The IT Potential of Haptics - touch access for people with disabilities: http://www.certec.lth.se/doc/touchaccess/TouchAccess.pdf http://www.certec.lth.se/doc/touchaccess/TouchAccess.txt http://www.certec.lth.se/doc/touchaccess/TouchAccess-Appendix.pdf "Tactile Images": feeling the relief of images http://www.irisa.fr/tactiles/index-eng.html ============== Requirements ============== 1. Hardware ------------- - CPU: 500 Mhz (minimal requirement) - RAM: 32 Mo (minimal requirement) - Disk Space: uses 6 MB - Screen display mode: 256 colors, 16 bit or 32 bit (recommended) - Screen Resolution: any resolution, but 800*600 and above are recommended http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/windowsxp/screenresolution.aspx - Window Font Size: Normal (recommended, font by default) http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310543 - You need any passive cursor control device (Mouse, Trackball, Touchpads) to feel visual feedback on screen (Cursor pointer will move slower or faster). A relative Mouse is recommended for correct ratio between Mouse Motion (hand) and Visual Sensations (eyes), iFeelPixel determines how far the pointer moves on the computer screen in response to how far you move the mouse. Absolute mice are not recommended. - You need a Nintendo WiiMote to feel rumble feedback. - You need any active TouchSense device (Mouse, Joystick, Gamepad) to feel tactile feedback. - You need a Novint Falcon to feel full force feedback (Recommended). - You need a DirectX compatible sound card to hear and feel sound feedback (optional): http://www.computerhope.com/drivers/sound.htm - Internal PC speakers (optional, alternative of sound feedback) - Please do not forget to unmute the MIDI Synthetiser in the sound card settings. - DirectX compatible video card drivers: http://www.computerhope.com/drivers/video.htm 2. Software ------------- - Operating System: Windows compatible 98SE/Me/2000/XP/Vista (Virtual PC for Macintosh) English/American version of windows XP/Vista are recommended. For International users. Windows 95/NT are not supported. Windows 98/Me/2000 have limited support. - This software uses the VB6 run-times files*: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q192461/ OR http://www.ifeelpixel.com/download/vbrun60.exe *Required but packaged with iFeelPixel setup, no further software installation is necessary. - This software uses the Immersion TouchSense Technology*: http://www.immersion.com/plugins/ *Required but packaged with iFeelPixel setup, no further software installation is necessary. - Microsoft Speech API file (speech add-on, part I): http://activex.microsoft.com/activex/controls/sapi/spchapi.exe OR http://www.ifeelpixel.com/download/spchapi.exe - A Text-To-Speech engine (speech add-on, part II): http://activex.microsoft.com/activex/controls/agent2/lhttseng.exe OR http://www.ifeelpixel.com/download/lhttseng.exe - Additional TTS engines (speech add-on, part III): http://www.microsoft.com/products/msagent/downloads/user.aspx#tts The list of additional requirements (drivers for haptic devices) is available at: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/download/ =========================== Installation instructions =========================== To install iFeelPixel, you should follow some simple steps: 1. Download the installer program (http://www.ifeelpixel.com/download/ifeelpixel_setup.exe) to a location on your hard drive (e.g., C:\temp). 2. Run the installer program by double-clicking on the "iFeelPixel_setup" executable icon. 3. Follow the instructions of the installer program to install iFeelPixel. 4. Launch the software then activate it with the activation code you received during the registration process. http://www.ifeelpixel.com/support/activation.htm 5. Done! Congratulations iFeelPixel should be installed and activated on your machine. Enjoy! **What files are installed?**: The iFeelPixel installer will install the following files on your system: * hotsamp.ifr (Immersion Force Resource) * notes.ifr (Immersion Force Resource) * zmouse_emoticons.ifr (Immersion Force Resource) * ifeelpixeleula.rtf and ifeelpixeleula.txt (iFeelPixel - End User License Agreement) * immersioneula.rtf (Immersion - End User License Agreement) * iFeelPixel.exe (iFeelPixel application and configuration) * some XML files * some image files * some sound files * some xhtml files For more informations about installation, please visit our online support: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/support/install.htm **Uninstalling iFeelPixel**: There are 2 ways to remove iFeelPixel from your system: 1. You should use the "Add/Remove Programs" control panel in Windows. To this by selecting "Start >> Settings >> Control Panel >> Add/Remove Programs" from the Windows Start menu. In the listbox that is presented to you, choose "iFeelPixel" and click "remove." 2. You should use the Start Menu Uninstall shortcut. To this by selecting "Start >> All Programs >> iFeelPixel >> Uninstall" from the Windows Start menu. Perfect cleaning (Following points are only for experienced user and not really necessary): 1. Launch a search on your hard disk for "Software Defender" folder in your "Application Data" folder, when you found it, open it and you can delete the folder where backup settings of iFeelPixel software are saved. Alternative: Start iFeelPixel, go to menu File > Settings > Open application data folder. Exit iFeelPixel, then delete the data files you found in this folder. Important note: please delete the cached version of " ifeelpixel.exe" before you install a new version! 2. Empty your recycle bin For more informations about uninstallation, please visit our online support: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/support/uninstall.htm ============================ What's new in this version ============================ - Visual Feedback (Pseudo-haptic developed in collaboration with INRIA) has been optimized. (v.0.9.0) Users can select if they prefer to be attracted or repulsed when there is a pixel detection under their cursor. That's mean iFeelPixel software can simulate realistic pseudo-tactile sensations without a haptic interface. Open File Menu > Visual Feedback (keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+ F1) - New multimodal file menubar (v.0.9.0) I. Visual Feedback (To enable pseudo-haptic effects with a simple mouse) II. Haptic feedback is divided into 3 parts: 1. Rumble Feedback (To enable Rumble effects for Nintendo Wiimote). 2. Tactile Feedback (To enable Tactile effects for TouchSense devices). 3. Force Feedback (To enable force effects for Novint Falcon). III. Auditory Feedback is divided into 3 parts: 1. Sound Card Feedback 2. Internal Speakers 3. Narrator Voices Edge, Line, Corner, Color, Grid, Texture options has been updated (v.0.9.0): - You can choose if you prefer an attraction effect or repulsion effect for Visual Feedback or Novint Falcon - "Media Center" has been updated and renamed to "Force Ressource" (v.0.9.0) - "Reload Immersion Plugin" has been added in "Force Ressource" (v.0.9.0) - "iFeelPixel Research" has been renamed to "Clipboards Monitoring " (v.0.9.0) - New options for Novint Falcon (v.0.9.0) http://www.ifeelpixel.com/download/whatsnew9.htm#novint Special thanks to Novint (Bill Anderson, Jonathan Miller) for the Novint Hardware and the haptic library. - Local Search Removed (v.0.9.0) - Keyboard Piano: Automatic volume checkbox has been added, the volume slider is controlled by main volume slider (v.0.9.0) - When you enable a feature on the toolbar, it automaticaly disables the others features (v.0.9.0) - "Mouse data and settings" is updated for the Novint Falcon (Force Safety) (v.0.9.0) - "Constant force" (See edge options) interacts in correlation with "visual feedback", "tactile feedback" and "Force Feedback" (v.0.9.0). - "Windows caption" checkbox removed from Morse option (v.0.9.0) - Horizontal or vertical visual Grid can be selected (v.0.9.0) - Haptic devices names appear on Icon Systray (v.0.9.0) - View > "More Information" becomes "TouchSense Informations" (v.0.9.0) - Acceleration and deceleration checkboxes are used to control Novint Falcon forces (v.0.9.0) - Help > "Bug Report" updated for the Novint Falcon (v.0.9.0) - "Tactile Feedback" updated for Edge, line, corner detection (v.0.9.0) - "Splashscreen" updated with Novint Logo (v.0.9.0) - Help > "About" updated with Novint Logo (v.0.9.0) - "EULA / Credits" updated (v.0.9.0) -------------------Previous Versions--------------------------------------- - File > WiiFeelPixel >> WiiMote Rumble Feedback (v.0.8.4) - WiiFeelPixel Options: Rumble settings for the Nintendo Wii Remote Controller (v.0.8.4) Help > Hardware requirements: You need a WiiMote (a remote controller for the Nintendo Wii) to feel the Rumble Feedback and a compatible Bluetooth USB adapter to connect the computer with the WiiMote. Thanks to Tokkyo Nakamura (Author of WiinRemote) for the help and Wiimote support (Copyright Nintendo Wii All rights reserved). How to connect Wiimote with Bluesoleil? http://www.wiili.org/index.php/How_To:_BlueSoleil - When you enable a feature on the toolbar, it automaticaly stops WiiMote Rumble (v.0.8.5) - When you enable a feature on the toolbar, it automaticaly disables the others features not compatible (v.0.8.4) - Mouse data and settings: new cursor speed value selected by default (v.0.8.4) minimum speed = 5, maximum speed = 15, Maximum acceleration/deceleration per pixel = 2 -------------------Previous Versions--------------------------------------- - New system of software protection and online activation for license (v.0.8.3) http://www.ifeelpixel.com/support/activation.htm - File > Select > Part of Screen: * Keyboard shortcut added, press any key to select quickly a window on screen. * Mouse shortcut added, select quickly a window on screen with left button, right button or middle button (Middle button is recommended) (v.0.8.3) - Keyboard Piano Options: hear musical sounds from your keystrokes. Transform your keyboard into a virtual Piano (v.0.8.3) http://www.ifeelpixel.com/download/whatsnew8.htm#keyboardpiano - iFeelPixel software is compatible with Windows Vista Operating System (v.0.8.3) http://www.ifeelpixel.com/faq/#vista - Settings are saved in a XML file. This way the software does not need to accesss the windows registry. Benefits: more safe, more secure, more stable for the computer and the user. How to delete those files? See uninstall instructions for more informations (v.0.8.3) http://www.ifeelpixel.com/support/uninstall.htm - Each new backup is saved with the ".xml" extension (".reg" extension for older version). It is more safe and secure to use XML than registry, especialy on windows vista. How to delete those files? See general settings for more informations (v.0.8.3) http://www.ifeelpixel.com/support/generalsettings.htm - Each new texture is saved with the ".xml" extension (".reg" extension for older version). It is more safe and secure to use XML than registry, especialy on windows vista. How to delete those files? See texture settings for more informations (v.0.8.3) http://www.ifeelpixel.com/support/savetexture.htm - View > Main Display > Always Stay on Top: Only for the main window of iFeelPixel, not anymore the options (v.0.8.3) - You can send us your software version code and set your user name directly from iFeelPixel software: (v.0.8.3) Help > About > Click "Paypal Donate" button Help > About > Enter your User Name in the Textbox > Click "Set User " button - File > Open Application Data Folder: Per-user settings are in a separate file located under "Application Data" and are requested of the OS in the same manner (v.0.8.3) - View > More Information: you can choose any drive letter to search the third party files, iFeelPixel will remember this setting next time you restart the sofware (v.0.8.3) -------------------Previous Versions--------------------------------------- - Visual Feedback added (Pseudo-haptic developed in collaboration with INRIA): (v.0.8.1) Cursor speed and acceleration is automatically based on pixel brightness. Alternatively, the cursor speed value can be modified manually by the user (For Edge, Line, Corner, Color, Texture, Morse, Grid, TONAR features). Note for Visual Grid and Visual TONAR: Digital zoom must be pressed to view visual effects. Note for Morse: 'Read character' must be checked to view visual effects (Sign Language). That's mean iFeelPixel software can simulate pseudo-tactile sensations without a haptic interface. Open File Menu > Visual Feedback (keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+ F1) - Enable/Disable digital zoom when the user click the iFeelPixel logo on main window Note: Digital Zoom cannot zoom itself to avoid weird graphical effects. - Sound Feedback and Internal PC speakers updated: Sound Speed value is modified automatically if "visual feedback" is enabled (For Edge, Line, Corner, Color, Texture features) - Mouse Data and Settings Window: View Menu >> Mouse Data and Settings... (shortcut: Ctrl+W) - Color detection improved, color options updated - Line and corner options, status improved: Indicate color (Light / Dark), or orientation - Line and corner effects are linked to threshold http://www.ifeelpixel.com/support/threshold.htm - "Constant force" (See edge options) interacts in correlation with "visual feedback" and "tactile feedback" - "Hotsamp.ifr" file updated (Compatibility improved for TouchSense devices) - Local search settings updated: now you can limit maximum size per file included in search File > Local Search > Enter a Number in 'size per file' textbox (range: 1 KB to 99999 KB, Default = 5000 KB, No limit = 0) - Privacy note: clipboards are automatically deleted at end of this session File > Clipboards - File > Media Center: 'Reset' and 'clear' buttons added for all features (Edge, Line, Corner, Grid, Color, Texture) - 'Open all options' added in the Menu 'Options' - Make a tactile grid automatically (Settings based on zoom size) Make a tactile grid manually (Enter settings below) Options > Tactile Grid - Compact mode: Zoom view is automatically resized if the main window is resized. View > Compact - The single point of contact between cursor and screen is visually simulated by a red dot and a red circle on zoom view. It symbolizes the only pixel of interest. - Unchecking acceleration checkbox or deceleration checkbox reset cursor speed to 10, if cursor speed is actually decelerated or accelerated. A full list of changes in this version can be found at: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/download/whatsnew9.htm Main Features: -----------File Menu----------------------------------------------------------------------- - Force Ressource - Stop all effects! - Monitoring Selection - Mouse limitation - Saving/Exporting/Importing/Resetting Settings - Visual Feedback - Haptic feedback --> Rumble Feedback --> Tactile Feedback --> Force Feedback - Auditory Feedback --> Sound Card Feedback --> Internal PC speakers --> Narrator Voices - Multimodal (All) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------Toolbar-------------------------------------------------------------- - Edge detection - Line detection - Corner detection - Color Detection - Grid Generation - Texture Generation - Play/Stop - Magnifier - Demo mode - Keyboard Piano + American Sign Language - Morse Engine + American Sign Language - TONAR (Tactile Orientation Navigation And Ranging) - Metronome System ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------View Menu--------------------------------------------------- - Mouse: Data and Settings (Force Safety for Novint Falcon) - Main Display : Stay on top, center of screen, Opacity window, Enable/Disable Vista Aero - Modify iFeelPixel CPU priority - Optimize RAM - Timer Interval - Clipboard Viewer (does not work on windows vista) - Control Panel - TouchSense information ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For software shortcuts, please visit: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/support/shortcuts.txt ============== Known issues ============== List of known issues in this version of iFeelPixel: - "Clipboard to Morse" use too much CPU percent if enabled and when Morse is already started (bug v.0.9.0) - If you try to close or minimize a window in clicking the left or right button on a Novint Grip. The cursor is suddenly stopped. (bug v.0.9.0) Solution: always activate the window in clicking the window before you click the minimize or maximize buttons. - Fatal Error (Novint Falcon): The dynamic link library 'FTD2XX.dll' could not be found (v.0.9.0). Solution: Please download and install D2XX Drivers - Fix For Non English Users issue: International compatibility with international version of MicroSoft Windows http://ifeelpixel.blogspot.com/2007/09/ifeelpixel-version-082-compatible.html - Narrator issue with windows XP SP2 discovered, please download and install English package: http://activex.microsoft.com/activex/controls/agent2/lhttseng.exe http://www.ifeelpixel.com/download/lhttseng.exe - Narrator issue with windows Vista discovered: users cannot select the source of sound engine. The sounds are played on sound card, but they cannot be listened via speackers. The ability to choose a different hardware or software MIDI synthesizer other than the default Microsoft GS Wavetable Software synth has been removed from the user interface for audio configuration in Windows Vista. A different output MIDI synth or output device port can be selected only by editing the registry. Alternative solution: Right-click on the Volume Mixer icon in the taskbar. That opens the sound settings window. The green “checkmark” should be on your Speakers device (which is attached to your sound card). Disable the other audio output engine listed in Playback Tab. The list of known issues in this version of iFeelPixel is available at: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/download/whatsnew9.htm#knowissues The list of known issues in all versions of iFeelPixel is available at: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/support/knowissue.txt - Error handler for beta tester: If an error occurs, you see an error description on screen and you have 3 choices: ABORT (Abrupt termination of iFeelPixel program execution and iFeelPixel process running) RETRY (Performs the action of retrying the action whose failure posted the dialog box) IGNORE (Ignore last error generated by iFeelPixel software) Please be sure to review the list of known issues before submitting a bug. But if you do find a problem that isn't included on the known issues list, please let us know by reporting the bug: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/mail/bug.php http://www.ifeelpixel.com/mail/mailto.php?software:ifeelpixel.com =================== Technical support =================== - To update this software: File >> Update this software You will be directed to: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/download/version_check.php?current_version=0.9.0 If your version is outdated, please update to the most current version. Otherwise, please visit this site again in some days to check if a new version is released. http://www.ifeelpixel.com/download/now.htm - For technical support questions, please go to: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/support/ - Online forum and webchat to meet iFeelPixel users and discuss about iFeelPixel software: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/forum/ - Keep in touch with our web log (blog) or our newsgroup: http://ifeelpixel.blogspot.com/ http://www.ifeelpixel.blogspot.com/atom.xml http://groups-beta.google.com/group/ifeelpixel - Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/faq/ - Online help: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/help/ - E-mail: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/mail/ http://www.ifeelpixel.com/mail/mailto.php?software:ifeelpixel.com - Please help us improve our software, make your report and give your point of view: http://www.ifeelpixel.com/support/test.php ========== Donation ========== iFeelPixel is a "DonationWare": this means that is free for members of iFeelPixel organisation, but non-members can make a donation to help support further development and web-server costs. http://www.ifeelpixel.com/donate/?promo_code=iFeelPixel A "License to touch" is a license key to activate your copy of iFeelPixel on your machine. We are protecting the iFeelPixel software against sharing of license keys, the use of pirate copies and against selfish people that abuse our service if they don't make a donation. Here your benefits by activating iFeelPixel: - No more time limit (your license code will never expire) - No more activation restriction - Free update - Priority help and support, private forum access - Preferential treatment for feature requests - Free software sample, bundles, bonus, coupons and special offers Corporate users should contact us via e-mail. http://www.ifeelpixel.com/mail/ http://www.ifeelpixel.com/mail/mailto.php?software:ifeelpixel.com