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New Radar Device Helps Blind People 'See'
greenrainbow writes "Students in Israel at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have developed new technology that allows blind people to 'see' objects around them through a simple radar system. The device consists of a computer, two video cameras, and a scanning light source; it audibly alerts the individual of objects that are in close proximity. The system scans surrounding objects and their distance from two points, much like the human eyes. Unlike current sensor canes, this new light scanning device is a hands-free system that can sense objects on the ground, overhead, and in the periphery."
If these people are able to detect objects around them via arriving photons, then it's sight. Artificial, for sure, but still sight.
see - 2.a. To apprehend as if with the eye. b. To detect by means analogous to use of the eye.
I found this interesting, but TFA is a little lacking. I'd still like to know how the sensory data is converted so that a blind person can use it. Does the system have a name so I can look it up?
There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
didnt we have an article just a couple weeks ago about ocular implants becoming much more viable? being able to see, compared to having something see for you and alert you. are two totaly different things...i go for the former
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_echolocation
Yeah, a bit of a low-tech solution; but that's actually a very useful property, and seems to work fine if one really cares to do it...
One that hath name thou can not otter
A similar product already exists. Is this one supposed to be better? http://www.seeingwithsound.com/
He once inserted random mutations into his code, just so he could have the experience of debugging.
There is a man who teaches other blind and partially sighted to "see" objects using echo location. He clicks his tongue and waits for the response. I know, it does sound unlikely, but he is extremely good and was featured on one of UK magician's Derren Brown's "The Events" shows last August or September.
My web domain.
A system like this shouldn't have too much trouble identifying pedestrian "walk/don't walk" traffic signals and giving an audio signal when they turn red or green. GPS locations of known traffic lights should make this even easier. That would make navigating through a city much easier for the visually impaired. There's some research in this area (link, link) already, but having a system like this in place makes it much more likely for a real, usable production system to eventually end up in the hands of the people who need it.
Building Better Software
thevOICe is a computer vision system that can actually run on Android phones.
-mkb
Dear troll:
I'll just comment on your first point -- the rest of your statements appear to follow from that:
The American Citizen who was shot was Furkan Dogan. A Turkish-American, 19 years old who is ONLY an American Citizen because of the 14th amendment. He was born here while is father was attending school in NY. He left the US with his family when he was 2 years old. Your self-edited statement gives an incomplete, if not utterly misleading picture.
NPR Interview. Quite interesting
Talking about the region where Furkan lived and was raised:
Rooke, along with reporting, also includes the commentary: "But, of course, the people on the boat, they're not radical Islamists at all, they're just people providing humanitarian aid to those in need on the Gaza Strip." It's an interesting comment from her when this hasn't been established and there are reports to the contrary and considering the origins of at least the "American"...
I'm not saying this was right or wrong. I'm saying we don't know everything yet and you are painting an incomplete and VERY slanted picture.
But that's your job, isn't? As a troll?
Seriously, why does every article about something an Israeli company or university achieves, makes people talk about politics ?
It got nothing to do with it.
It's especially annoying when those who talk about politics, know nothing about Israel, or what's going on over there.
Why use audible warnings? Why not use vibration. Make something like a belt or headband with cellphone-sized motors mounted around the thing. The vibrations can then indicate which direction has an obstacle. Seems more useful and more private than something beeping or talking to you.
Matt Murdock, eat your heart out.
By the house of the future: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mj26QFW6JA