PageFlip
Automatic Page Turners for Hands-Free Reading
Uses
MUSICIANS:
Consider the problem of a musician whose hands are busy playing their instrument. It is very disruptive to stop playing simply to turn the page. This is further complicated by the fact that many books do not readily stay open and musicians must often secure the pages by placing clips or other books along the edges. A need clearly exists for an automatic page turner to operate on conventional books. The idea is to take any music book off the shelf, attach up to 10 sheets (20 pages) to the robotic page turner, and begin playing. With the tap of a wireless foot pedal, the musician can have full confidence that only one page will be turned at a time in either the forward or reverse directions.
Consider the problem of a musician whose hands are busy playing their instrument. It is very disruptive to stop playing simply to turn the page. This is further complicated by the fact that many books do not readily stay open and musicians must often secure the pages by placing clips or other books along the edges. A need clearly exists for an automatic page turner to operate on conventional books. The idea is to take any music book off the shelf, attach up to 10 sheets (20 pages) to the robotic page turner, and begin playing. With the tap of a wireless foot pedal, the musician can have full confidence that only one page will be turned at a time in either the forward or reverse directions.
DISABLED:
An automatic page turner would be an assistive technology to people with limited bilateral upper extremity function caused by neurological impairment, musculoskeletal problems, and generalized weakness. Included in this population are people who have suffered cerebrovascular accidents, spinal cord injuries, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and arthritic joint changes. The automatic page turner would enhance the quality of life of the elderly and disabled by improving their independence in this activity of daily living. A care-giver must be available to install successive batches of 10 sheets after each 20-page reading session. This process guarantees 100% reliability in turning one page at a time.
AVID READERS:
An automatic page turner provides avid readers with convenient book support and page turning features. It permits them to discover the convenience of hands-free reading. The robotic device can supplant book holders for use with cookbooks in kitchens, books in libraries, reading material on exercise equipment, or simply for reading in bed. Hands-free reading is limited to 10 sheets (20 pages) at a time before the next batch of sheets must be attached to the page turner. This tradeoff assures the reader that only one page will be turned at a time. No other automatic page turner can make that guarantee.