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Robots to Help the Blind

Posted by samzenpus on from the helper-robot dept.

Timberwolf0122 writes "Computer scientists in the US have developed a robot that could help blind people to shop or find their way around large buildings. Utilising a RFID tags to find products and a laser range finder to avoid obsticals. The prototype was developed at Utah State University, is this the end of guide dogs?"

2 of 195 comments (clear)

  1. we're almost able to replace their eyes! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    maybe this effort should be going towards that instead? How far away are artificial eyes that are good enough for a blind person to shop? And if they're good enough to shop, they are probably good enough for a lot of things that that shopping robot won't be good for.

  2. Simple answer: No. by ta+bu+shi+da+yu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The answer to this is no, because not all blind people want some impersonal robot. A dog is much nicer as it's alive and can make decisions in the external environment that a robot cannot make.

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