Video Headsets for the Vision Impaired?

OldHawk777 asks: "Does anyone know of a source for a lightweight wearable video headset system for vision impaired people? Are there vision degeneration diseases that such a vision system would be specifically useful to the vision impaired person? Would USA Medicare and/or private insurance pay for such a medical device?"

"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."

Comments

Wired for video

[mknewman]

How about this: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/10.09/vision.ht ml

What are you looking for?

[WildFire42]

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.

Medicare? No way.

[anthony_dipierro]

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).

Re:Confusing PCness...

[sakusha]

Don't forget there are a lot of different types of "blind." Lately the proper euphemism seems to be "low vision" rather than "legally blind" (as opposed to "blind" which implies total blindness).
I've been researching this problem myself, since my little niece has detatched retinas due to a medical malpractice incident at birth, so she has no central vision, she can only see with her peripheral vision. She gets around pretty well in the real world, she doesn't need assistance like a cane or guide dog, but she has to use a CCTV magnifying system to read, so she hates to read. She's very intelligent so I feel very sad every time I hear that she hates to read.
Anyway, there are other central vision defects, like macular degeneration, etc. Then there are other completely different problems, like cataracts, which cause cloudy vision, other problems cause tunnel vision, etc etc. So you've got to know what type of "blindness" you're dealing with. The original question made no attempt to even guess at any specific type of vision problem before asking for a general solution. There IS no one solution for this problem, it's dozens of similar problems with different solutions. That's why people go to Medical School to learn this stuff. Consult with professionals for this sort of medical advice, not slashdot.

Reply: What are you looking for?

[OldHawk777]

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