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Video Headsets for the Vision Impaired?
"I have searched a few times over the past few years for a lightweight wearable video system for vision impaired people (Legally Blind). I am looking for a hardware and software configuration that allows people full
mobility around home and for short walks. Considering that, I am only talking about a good quality digital camera, video card, video-headset, external power/batter and maybe some firmware on the video circuitry for personal preference
configuration (I figure, maybe $300 to $800). The system would not be for replacing the seeing-eye-dog or cane-navigation, but neither can read and it is hard learning Braille at age 65.
A small good quality digital camera as input, to video circuitry
with firmware, allowing adjustments/configuration (contrast, color, magnification, etc) and flash-save of user requirements, with output to a good quality video headset (providing adjustable viewing maybe about 125cm@1.5m to
250cm@1m).
So, who has one ready? Please share their website with us, so I can pass the information to the friends, children, and grandchildren of some folks that I know. All of the websites I have visited show only NTSC/PAL/HDTV/camcorder systems for television, airline movies in first-class, virtual
environments, military simulations/games, and so on. Most configurations were structured around existing entertainment centers and VE
generators, none were appropriate for reading and looking at reality and/or for vision impaired people.
Thanks in advance, for all your helpful comments and
directions."
How about this: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/10.09/vision.ht ml
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/10.09/vision.h
Why don't you just post as yourself then? Or are you posting such utter bullshit that you don't want to be associated with it?
The world is falling apart!!!! AAAAHHHH!
./revolution
prove it to yourself.
do what i said. it proves that "AC" posts have other data associated with them.
secondly, try moderating something that is trollish (which is a right reserved by a moderator to see the humor or insight in something labeled a troll) and NEVER get mod points EVER again. Do it. I dare you. Do it.
I guess the question is... What are you looking for?
The system would not be for replacing the seeing-eye-dog or cane-navigation, but neither can read and it is hard learning Braille at age 65.
Okay, so you need a document enlarger... My personal favorite would be anything from Optelec.
small good quality digital camera as input, to video circuitry with firmware, allowing adjustments/configuration (contrast, color, magnification, etc) and flash-save of user requirements, with output to a good quality video headset (providing adjustable viewing maybe about 125cm@1.5m to 250cm@1m)
Okay, so you really need a Video Telescope system. Here's one at AbleData, but good luck finding any system along these lines for less than $800.
As for a wearable monitor? The Jordy will probably be your best bet, and you can get a stand for it so that it's a document enlarger as well.
Ultimately, when in doubt, try the AbleData website.
Would USA Medicare and/or private insurance pay for such a medical device?
No. It's not medically necessary.
Just because something improves your vision doesn't mean it's covered by medical insurance. Contacts generally aren't covered, and neither is LASIK (vision correction surjery).
But you are just the Joe to hoe it!
Are you serious about the $300-$800? You spend $300 on a good camera alone. Do you think the benefits are gonna outweigh the costs (try $1k+)?
As interesting as the idea sounds, I see alot of hurdles to get over, perhaps the greatest of which is training a 65yo how to use it.
Boredom's not a burden anyone should bear.
I thought this person was talking about people with poor eyesight, but apparently he's talking about people who are blind. Vision impaired? Give me a break. What the hell is wrong with the word blind?
I don't know about visual systems for the visually impaired.
However, I can wholeheartedly recommend the headphones that come with the Archos MP3 player for anyone who can't hear - I can't imagine that anyone who *can* hear would ever enjoy them.
I believe glasses are usually covered by insurance though. Contacts and LASIK are luxury items. Both are more expensive replacements for glasses. So I don't see why they wouldn't pay for this, especially since it might mean fewer expenses for the patient that they WOULD be covering in the long run (since they can do more on their own).
-"It seems like you're trying to exploit a security hole. Would you like help?"
I saw a neat toy today, it was a dual display hood with a 3d racing game. It was cheap junk though, and probably not easily modifiable for your purpose.
Good Luck!
First of all, it's not sensitive in the least bit. Secondly, it doesn't happen, because I'm not an AC, like you seem to be. I use my name to post things rather than hiding behind a mask. Just simply don't use it and they're system is beat.
Thanks for your comment.
I looked at the emoscop. An emoscop adapter on a less expensive 2Meg or 4Meg pixel camera may be a very good way to reduce the cost of building a video headset for the Legally Blind. I'll be glad when I retire in a few (too many) years and have time to build a prototype (maybe someone will do it before me, ... I hope they won't
patent what I consider an obvious application of available technology). After I
retire ..., taking the SF farther may involve some of the concepts implied by
the below websites.
Electroreactive and conducting polymers:
http://www.wcupa.edu/_acad emics/sch_cas.che/mrc.htm
Smart Optics:
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/d oi/10.1046/j.1468-4004.2003.44126.x/abs/
Flexible water-filled lens concepts:
http://physics.ucsd.edu/students/courses /fall2002/physicslabs/physics1clab/
Maybe a smart/programable emoscop with eltroreactive fluid-filled lenses for .... As Annie always said to Daddy
WarBucks; TOMORROW ....
OldHawk777
Unaccountable leaders are masters, and unrepresented people are slaves. How do US and EU fare?
Nothing available ... (I guess) something for the future .... I agree, initially the cost may be between $1K-$2K, to recoup unfunded development cost. However, production cost should be able to drop unit price to under $0.8K after the first year or few thousand units sold. This is a human welfare necessity not a "bread & butter" issue for anyone's survival. It would need to be affordable to many not the wealthy few. Portability of personal wearable gear in public places for gaming may have some support value ... for independently controlled Avatar Populated Experience Simulations (APES, pun intended) environments/bars/....
Unaccountable leaders are masters, and unrepresented people are slaves. How do US and EU fare?
You will be running into a classic problem of HMD design - you can have high-res, low field-of-view (FOV), or low-res, wide FOV - anything else either looks like ass, or costs megabucks (think LEEP optic sets). A large FOV promotes immersion (ie, the visual sense of being "there"), but comes at a cost of resolution - because to approximate a large FOV you need to magnify the video device. A smaller FOV has better resolution (pixels are more and close together), but leaves the user feeling like he is look through two toilet paper tubes. Large FOVs are most useful for immersive environments (walking about outside certainly qualifies), small FOV for detail work (reading or simulating a microscope, or microsurgical uses).
The resolution issue is one of the type of display being used. High-res used to require CRT displays, but LCDs have shrunk enough and are high enough res to eliminate this (mostly). Even so, not many miniature LCDs would be beyond the requirements of "legally blind", unless you are willing to spend the cash. So, for your application CRTs may be the only route, which are still expensive and bulky.
Another problem you will likely run into is that there aren't many vendors of this equipment. Small demand (the niche market is in simulation and data visualization - both markets with few players, but those players have big bucks - auto manufacturers, oil exploration, military - and so the hardware is priced accordingly). It used to be you could get ok/decent consumer style hardware, but none of it would meet the requirements you need (not even an old $800.00 Sony Glasstron, let alone a Forte VFX-1, a Phillips Scuba, or some I-Glasses). The consumer stuff just isn't being made any more (there isn't any interest, among other problems and issues). I haven't seen anything for the consumer market in a long time. Even so, the stuff that was available ranged from $500-1000.00.
Finally, you would need to mate it to some video cameras, and not just any video cameras, but high-resolution video cameras to match the HMD - these tend to be bulky and not too cheap (hi-res CCD security cameras are where you have to start) - and if you want a wide FOV, you need the lenses and res to accomodate that (big bucks for lenses and larger CCD imagers). Finally, you have to mate it all together - it just won't bolt together, you might need some custom case work.
A best, you are going to end up with an expensive prototype built with off-the-shelf components and being a pain to use: It will be bulky and heavy. It will likely work, but not for the people you intend to use it. Such systems have been built as test beds, since VR first made its true appearance in the early 1990's - likely, experiments were done with the early HMDs in the 1980's, as well (which were very bulky).
If you are serious about pursuing this, you will need to learn what you can about virtual reality, augmented reality, and wearable computer systems to get an idea of where to start. The technology is what you are interested in, and how to apply it to your application. However, there is nothing off-the-shelf for what you want - and what is available will likely be very expensive.
Reason is the Path to God - Anon
Is anybody else having a difficult time trying to read this? The type is far too small, and I can't see anything!
I had to do it. . .
YOU'RE WINNER !
Another lame blog
From Visual Displays FAQ
Low Vision Enhancement System
Display: B&W CRT
Resolution: 512 x 492 pixels
Field of View: 50 (H) x 37.5 (V)
Pixel Size: 5.9 arc minutes/pixel
Overlap: 100%
Weight: 2.1 lb
Price: $4,995 US (with 3 cameras)
Vendor:
Visionics Corporation
Suite 600
1000 Boone Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55427 USA
Tel: 1-612-544-4950/Fax: 1-612-544-4784