Development of a wearable support system to aid the visually impaired in independent mobilization and navigation
| Autor: | Tayla Froneman, Dawie van den Heever, Kiran Dellimore |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
Engineering
business.industry Visually impaired 05 social sciences Wearable computer 050801 communication & media studies Sensory Aid Equipment Design Visually Impaired Persons 03 medical and health sciences Identification (information) Wearable Electronic Devices 0508 media and communications 0302 clinical medicine 030220 oncology & carcinogenesis Obstacle Sensory Aids Computer vision Support system Canes Artificial intelligence Wearable Electronic Device business |
| Zdroj: | EMBC |
| ISSN: | 2694-0604 |
| Popis: | Visually impaired individuals have great difficulty in navigating unfamiliar environments. Conventional methods of obstacle detection are not always sufficient, thus a need exists for a low-cost device which could aid the visually impaired in navigating indoor environments. The aim of this study is to develop a wearable prototype support system which aids the visually impaired in independent navigation and mobilization. It utilizes ultrasonic sensors to detect obstacles and transmits feedback to the user through an array of vibration motors. The prototype device was evaluated by detecting the sensor signatures of various common static household obstacles. Trends were identified in these signatures which can be used to give feedback to the user of the type of obstacle encountered. The results show the basic feasibility of the device in static indoor obstacle detection and identification for the visually impaired. However, further refinement is needed to extend the system's functionality by detecting dynamic obstacles. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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