Abstract: A tactile image mapper has a vessel with a deformable membrane on one side and a clear face plate on the other side. The vessel is filled with an optically dense material, such as ink, and a pressure regulator varies and measures the pressure of the optically dense material to cause the deformable membrane to assume the shape of an object to be tactually sensed. A ring illuminator shines light through the clear face plate to the back side of the deformable membrane and a video camera captures the reflections off of the back side of the deformable membrane. A microcomputer captures a frame from the video signal and interprets areas with high intensities in the frame as protrusions on the surface of the object and areas with low intensities in the frame as low areas on the object. Based upon the interpretations at each point within the frame of the video signal, the tactile image mapper reconstructs a high resolution synthesized three dimensional topographical image of the object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simulating movement within a multi-dimensional space by selecting and reproducing a particular one of a plurality of selectable sequences of video images subsequent to a given sequence of video images. The apparatus comprises an interactive random access video disc system for storing the sequences of video images. Video image windowing means provides as a video output only a predetermined "window" portion of each retrieved video image. The window portion of an ending image of a given retrieved sequence substantially duplicates the window portion of a starting image of a retrieved sequence reproduced immediately subsequent to the given sequence, thereby providing a relatively imperceptible transition between sequences.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simulating movement within a multi-dimensional space by selecting and reproducing a particular one of a plurality of selectable sequences of video images subsequent to a given sequence of video images. The apparatus comprises an interactive random access video disc system for storing the sequences of video images. Video image windowing means provides as a video output only a predetermined "window" portion of each retrieved video image. The window portion of an ending image of a given retrieved sequence substantially duplicates the window portion of a starting image of a retrieved sequence reproduced immediately subsequent to the given sequence, thereby providing a relatively imperceptible transition between sequences.

Abstract: A measuring device for measuring the value represented by an indication on a graph, chart, map, or the like, having a calibration scale. The measuring device can accommodate any calibration scale over a wide range. The measuring device includes a first member, having a first reference indication on it, and a second member, having a second reference indication on it. The second member is movable with respect to the first member between a closed position, in which the two reference indications are adjacent each other, and an extended position, in which the two reference indications are separated. A first voltage signal, indicative of the separation of the first and second members, is applied to a ratiometric digital voltmeter which also receives as an input a second voltage signal determined by the setting of a manually adjustable control. The ratiometric digital voltmeter provides an output signal that is indicative of the ratio of its two input voltages, and this output is indicated on a digital display unit.