3-D Virtual Maps For the Blind

Roland Piquepaille writes to let us know about research into producing palpable maps for the blind. Scientific American has the story of Greek researchers who produce 3D "haptic" maps that "use force fields to represent walls and roads so the visually impaired can better understand the layout of buildings and cities." Two separate systems produce haptic output from standard video and from 2D maps. The systems have been tested on a small number of users. Currently the devices that interpret the "force fields" for sight-impaired users are not portable, and so the systems are most appropriate for doing research before, e.g., visiting a new city.

Comments

Seriously

[Anonymous Coward]

If I was blind (or deaf) I would do the world a favor and just kill myself. We have to go out of our way and do special things to accommodate a small minority of people. In return, these people use a disproportionate amount of our resources without being able to contribute as much back as a normal person. It's sad, but it's the truth. Just like all those starving people in Africa. What is the point of sending food? They are just going to eat it today and be hungry again tomorrow. If we are to send them anything, I say we send them guns and farming supplies. At least that way they could become self-sufficient and keep the militias off their backs. And if those fucking nigger bitches could keep from popping out a baby every other day there wouldn't be so fucking many mouths to feed.

I'm not a cold bastard, though. Normal people who get injured could stay (provided they have done something useful with their life), but babies born with handicaps would have to go. Also, 70 or 75 would be the cut-off point. If I had arthritis and Alzheimer's I would want someone to put me out of my misery, too. While we're at it, let's just go ahead and get rid of blacks and hispanics. Also asians and arabs. And those punjabs. If it's black, throw it back. If it's brown, flush it down. If it's yellow, um ... kill it (what the fuck rhymes with yellow?). I am not a white supremacist; I am an everything-else inferiorist.