New innovative technology for the visually impaired has been developed by NIST. If commercialized, it would provide refreshable tactile graphical information to the visually impaired, enabling them to compete on a more equal footing in the workplace and the education system. Currently, accessing graphical tactile information is expensive and cumbersome. This is a huge impediment for the visually impaired as graphical information is a core asset in the computer age " conveying essential complex information efficiently. The research team will advance the NIST display technology by improving its pin density, screen size, refresh rates, reset mechanisms and user interface. Phase 1 efforts will result in designs and prototypes of key components of the display " including the pins, locking mechanisms, and linear actuation arrays. The researchers will approach the R&D by 1) evaluating existing and potential applicable technologies, 2) designing and/or integrating those technologies that meet project requirements, 3) analyzing potential integrations, 4) prototyping the most efficient integrations and 5) producing a comprehensive design strategy document that delineates both the progress of the Phase 1 research and the research plan for the Phase 2 efforts. COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: The research findings will lead to a low-cost device capable of presenting information in two-dimensional graphical form. Commercial applications for the device include presenting tactile text and graphics for the visually impaired, thereby enabling the visually impaired to compete more effectively in our economy. The device could also be modified to present other tactile graphical information for varied industries. For example, it could represent three-dimensional maps of our plants and other planets surfaces (and below), for use by natural resource companies, infrastructure and construction projects, the military and space exploration