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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."
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.
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.
The semantics of it hardly matter. What I want to know is:
1. Will she be able to walk down the road or throgh an unfamiliar building without the cane?
2. Will we be able to afford this new gadget?
3. Will this be streamlined enough to wear comfortably?
If I get the right answers to all those questions I'll be among the 1st slash-doters to post a review.
--= Isn't it surprising how badly I spell ?
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
Yes the system maps the surrounding to sounds, i.e., it is a sonfication system. The big question is: how to effectively and meaningfully map a complex, dynamic visual scene (the immediate world around a person) to sounds such that it makes sense to the listener and communicates useful information? There is a good amount of research to show that, especially those who are blind from birth, have a very distinct and unique perception on the physical world; consequently a mapping that may work for a sighted person may not be any help to a visually impaired user. There have been a number of such systems developed in the past: some based on raster scanning, mapping snapshots of the current scene to a soundscape, and others that attempt to do qualitative analysis of scene images and express these with mappings developed in conjunction with visually impaired users. In all cases the issue is mapping images to sound in such a way as makes sense to a person who has never been able to see.
The ducks in the bathroom are not mine. [http://www.27bslash6.com]
thevOICe is a computer vision system that can actually run on Android phones.
-mkb
"If these people are able to detect objects around them via arriving photons, then it's sight."
Did you read the summary?
"The device consists of a computer, two video cameras, and a scanning light source; it audibly alerts the individual of objects"
So not sight, anymore then saying bats can see at night because they're using sonar.
Also this article is darn right awful, from the horrible use of stock photo usage to the inaccurate use of the word radar, meaning electromagnetic waves, not the two video cameras this system is using. Where's the photos of the device? Pics or it didn't happen.
I also love how the article says that guide dogs are color blind so that's a "deadly disadvantage" when reading street signs, yet this system only "alerts the individual of objects that are close in proximity" with no warning about street signs at all. Yeah, I'm going to have to go with the color blind guide dog because at least it can tell me there's a sign there and I need to stop instead of just beeping.
I'm also a bit surprised something similar doesn't exist already: you mean to tell me no one's thought of having a camera tell the blind they're too close? Proximity sensors have existed in cars for years and it's essentially the same idea: get to close to an object and the system beeps, and the closer you are the faster it beeps. No one thought "Gee blind people could use this too". Although maybe no one bothered because guide dogs sure seem like the better solution according to this article.
my karma will be here long after I'm gone
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.
the inaccurate use of the word radar [wikipedia.org], meaning electromagnetic waves, not the two video cameras this system is using.
What makes you say cameras don't work on electromagnetic waves? After all, visible light consists of electromagnetic waves. Yes, most commercial radar systems use microwaves instead of visible light, but that's not a requirement for something to be called radar.
And also,
not sight
I disagree. The system measures light. The fact that it uses the ear to inform the person of what it sees is irrelevant. It can see stars, rainbows and things coming at you faster than the speed of sound. You can't hear rainbows, or can you?
I'd rather you rationally disagree than irrationally agree.