1、Blind Aid Project Mid-Presentation,Sandra Mau, Nik Melchior, Maxim Makatchev,Contents,Project overview What weve learned Related projects Website tour,Project Overview,Develop an Electronic Travel Aid for the blind indoor navigation and obstacle avoidance outdoor navigation and path planning Range s
2、ensors and/or GPS,Blind and Vision Rehabilitative Services of Pittsburgh,Interviews with the President and Coordinator of Access Technologies Further interviews with Orientation and Mobility Instructors tomorrow,Blind and Vision Rehabilitative Services of Pittsburgh,Optometrist services Training fac
3、ilities including a kitchen Dormitories We merited a mention in their monthly newsletter,What We Have Learned,90% of the the blind cannot travel independently 7% use canes Trailing: following a fine discrimination such as curb/grass border,3% use guide dogs Batteries dont die Take initiative (intell
4、igent disobedience) Recognize limited classes of objects Follow Asimovs Laws,Interfaces,Most blind people dont read braille (especially elderly) Vibration can be useful Audible is preferred In general: Should not chatter too much User should take initiative Do not need an inventory of a room Need a
5、hand free,Interesting Problems,Need to know whats nearby without actually passing by everything Indoor navigation is more important College campuses and hospitals Instrumented environments Hard to sell,Interesting Problems,Buses at a bus stop GPS interface: current location and whats nearby Where to
6、 go and what to do at airports, hotels, convention centers, etc.,Related Research,Stated Preferences for Components of a Personal Guidance System for Nonvisual Navigation Golledge, Marston, Loomis, KlatzkyPreferred input type for PGS Voice input was strongest Braille was surprisingly not very popula
7、rPreferred output type for PGS Most accepted was a collar-or shoulder-mounted speech sound device Least accepted was output via headphones over ears For devices with extra directional cues, speech or tonal sound output was preferred,Related Projects,University of Michigan Mobile Robotics Lab,GuideCa
8、ne,NavChair,NavBelt,Related Products,Sound Foresight LtdThe UltraCaneUses sonar to detect obstacles and conveys this information through vibrating buttons on handle,http:/www.soundforesight.co.uk/ultracane_demonstrator.htm,Related Products,Adaptive Technology ConsultingMany products for the visually impaired: Braille translation, PDA, mobile phone organizer, screen magnifiers, Internet access with speech, etc.For navigation: GPS system,Related Products,TelesensoryMarco Audible Sensory System,Tech-Link kids (First Lego Robotics)Pocket-bot,To the web.,
