HIFU Embossment

We propose High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) as an innovative method for creating custom embossed designs on acrylic surfaces, eliminating the need for traditional molds. By adjusting HIFU parameters such as amplitude, irradiation time, and distance, we can control embossment qualities like height, transparency, and line precision.

This technique offers significant advantages for quick prototyping and customization in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Additionally, we developed an intuitive user interface to help non-experts design and apply tactile graphics using HIFU. Preliminary user studies show positive feedback, indicating that HIFU embossment is a viable and flexible alternative for personalized tactile design.

Ayaka Tsutsui, Tatsuki Fushimi, Takahito Murakami, Ryosei Kojima, Kengo Tanaka, and Yoichi Ochiai. 2024. HIFU Embossment of Acrylic Sheets. In Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI ’24). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, Article 431, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1145/3613904.3642890

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