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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.
But the most important issue, and the one that makes this idea founder, is that mostly it's sighted folks implementing their ideas on what would make the world a better place for the blind. No blind person would likely find themselves wandering an unknown city without some assistance from either a guidedog or sighted assistant. Why? It's not the walls and what not that are the problem... its the idiots who park their cars on pavements, the morons who let their dogs foul the pavements, it's town planners who let trees grow over pavements putting overhanging branches in the way. And so on, and so on. Disrespect is one of the biggest barriers and something that cannot be easily resoved with 'force-fields'.
Sorry to rant, it's a nice idea...
Force fields? Holographic maps? Invisibility cloaks?
How long was I asleep?
cmd-q.co.uk - some sort of stupid fucking internet bullshit
I don't see it.
OK the only original idea in TFA is a force feedback glove which simulates touching a surface by pushing back against fingers at the appropriate moment. I can think of lots of uses for that if the device can be put into production.
The rest of it is all about building physical models of spaces, then taking pictures of them and turning the pictures into 3D models using an algorithm which the author is obviously very proud of. Unfortunately most people who design stuff these days build a 3D model in software at the outset, so going the other way is useful, but not the first thing I would think of.
http://michaelsmith.id.au
now blind people can have porn too.
"Feels like a couple of hills over here, maybe a park a bit lower, feels like some bushes...."
I have this really funny quote that I like to put here. Unfortunately, there's this really annoying thing called a char
I've been living in Japan for the last few years and they've been using "modern tech" to aid the blind for years. All subway/train/bus stations, and even most sidewalks in downtown areas, have pathways of raised bumps (like sidewalk braille) leading to/from all exits/stairways/crosswalks/etc. It's mind-numbing how pervasive these things are. Braille "enabled" maps are posted all over (with, of course, sidewalk-braille paths leading up to them). They even have braille written (embossed?) on staircase railings saying which floor is the next one up/down, and of course on all elevator buttons. But they don't stop there. Most subways/trains and even buses announce what stop they're at and which one is next. Not to mention the elevators, too.
Anyway, to make a long comment short, it doesn't take fancy tech to make the world easier for disabled people, but a willingness to spend public money to do so. I can't imagine how much all that infrastructure costs, but then I look at my taxes...