5 Innovations Aiming to Shape the Surroundings of the Blind
- Nicholas Waggoner
- Apr 25, 2017
- 6 min read
It's safe to assume that many people, when asked, know exactly how to define the term blindness. After all, it is by no means some new condition or the latest overhyped viral outbreak (yes, I'm talking about you Ebola, 2014). I find that most people do not actually comprehend what it means to live with vision difficulties. It's as if the conversation ends with some variation of either "Oh, that sucks" or it begins the idea tree for a slew of questions. These questions bear ripe fruit like; "What do you think the color blue actually looks like?" and "How do you get dressed in the morning?"
As someone who has always had his sight, I can admit that I was both ignorant to and naturally curious about the experiences a blind person has. I believe curiosity is a big part of what makes us human and inherently it is in our nature to question that which we do not know. Therefore, this post is dedicated to answering some of these questions. Whether you are a curious sighted reader or someone who is visually impaired hunting new technology. We aim to shine the spotlight on massively beneficial technologies that are either coming out soon or are already available to the market.
Pivothead Seeing AI Glasses (in collaboration with Microsoft)
It's often easy for me to take for granted the context a facial expression or a simple hand gesture can add to a conversation. This can often make it hard to understand the intention the speaker is trying to convey. It reminds me a lot of my generally sarcastic nature and how more often than not, my text messages can be misconstrued to mean something entirely different. The Pivothead Seeing AI Glasses are one of those products that not only address these subtle nuances of conversation that take place but gives each wearer the ability to partake in them.
How It Works: The glasses capture a photograph of what they are looking at when the user swipes the frame of the glasses. Then the image is passed through Microsoft's Artificial Intelligence software. The glasses continue to pass the results of the AI image scan to speakers inside of the glasses. Through the speakers, the image is described in detail. Effectively, if the glasses work as they are being advertised to work, the wearer will be able to understand substantially more about their environment.
Website: http://www.pivothead.com/seeingai
Hello Haptic's Tactile Flash Cards
Why did flashcards make this list you ask? Imagine trying to teach your child what a tree is. That should be simple, walk into the back yard and touch a tree. Eureka! Problem solved, right? Ok, now picture being blind and having a child who cannot read yet. How would you help your son or daughter complete homework assignments on paper? If the child cannot read yet they are relying on describing things to you, but their description may be unclear. This is further exacerbated since you cannot read what it is they are describing. To say the least, this can create a frustrating learning environment. These tactile cards are a great way for children in school, who are learning what objects feel like, to touch them in a safe environment. Additionally, they are also useful for parents with vision difficulties who are trying to teach and educate their children. These cards are still in the developmental stages, but they seem to be a great resource.
How It Works: On one side of the card is braille and below that written text. On the other is the texture of the item that was depicted in both braille and written text. Additionally, these cards can be placed into a storybook which will further develop a child's relational understanding of both words and their associated touch.
Website: http://www.yankodesign.com/2009/08/11/tactile-flash-cards-for-the-blind/
Bright F Color Sensor
Although not as game-changing as restoring certain aspects of sight, this gadget can simplify and reduce the time it takes to complete pesky chores around the house. Additionally, it has the added effect of giving the user a big boost to his/her confidence when going to their next social event.
How It Works: The Bright F Sensor works by translating brightness, hue, and saturation of color into sounds. Therefore, similar sounds will resonate with the user as similar clothing colors and thus will allow people with sight impairments to more accurately sort clothes for laundry purposes, picked out matching outfits to wear out, or aid in shopping at clothing stores to add missing pieces to their wardrobe. This product is only a concept but would be a much-welcomed addition to
Website: http://www.yankodesign.com/2008/05/08/see-color-with-sound/
LS&S UltraCane Electronic Mobility Aid by Divine Medical
I know the old adage "Don't try to reinvent the wheel" but I am glad someone decided to throw that logic out the window. The walking cane is one of the most important aids to the blind and visually impaired community and for good reason. It allows the user to understand their environment a little better. By sensing and preventing potential hazards, it allows the user to have a greater sense of independence. This is especially important for those who have very little to no vision to rely on.
How It Works: The cane emits ultrasonic waves in a way that mimics a bat or dolphin's ability to use echolocation. As the device emits an ultrasonic pulse, it measures how long it takes for the pulse to return. This measurement of time can be translated into a distance. The process is performed by two sensors on the cane's handle. It looks for objects that are within a 5' distance at an upwards and forward projection. This helps protect the user's head from hitting objects. Additionally, depending on the cane's setting, it searches for objects that are out in front of the user either 6.5' away or 13' away.
Website: http://www.devinemedical.com/UltraCane-Electronic-Mobility-Aid-p/lss-541001.htm?gclid=CjwKEAjw_uvHBRDUkumF0tLFp3cSJACAIHMYTEn8ZKNUO3ue-Gcg04LA_qUpDp3JSGTxmNTUleAeLBoCNL_w_wcB&zmam=36263310&zmas=1&zmac=1&zmap=LSS-541001-43
Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System Artificial Retina Bionic Eye
Literally, this product is nicknamed the Bionic Eye. Honestly, there is a lot of good reasoning for that. In high contrast environments, the bionic eye restores some version of sight. It essentially lights up a grid of dots that the user can see and then, with training, interpret. A good example of this would be a user looking at a door. After the device does its magic, the user would see a grid of dots which looks like an upside-down letter "U". Currently, the Argus II uses 60 sensors. The experts at Duke University see this as the pioneering steps to curing specific types of blindness.
How It Works: A small video camera captures a scene that the wearer is looking at. The image is sent to a small portable unit which is transformed into instructions. These instructions are then wirelessly sent to an implant on the eye. Small pulses of electricity stimulate the retina's remaining cells. Then, signals are sent down the optic nerve and allow the brain to transmit the images as pulses of light. This allows the user to distinguish between contrasting items and regain some version of sight for those diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa.
Website: http://www.secondsight.com/g-the-argus-ii-prosthesis-system-pf-en.html
This is just a short list of some of the great innovations that I have come across. From glasses that restore variations of sight to gadgets that can help detect the currently undetectable. We live in a fascinating and fast-paced culture that is only going to enhance the way the blind and visually impaired interact with their world. Personally, I am one who is looking forward to seeing what the next invention is!
We want to hear about other pieces of technology that are floating around out there. Please feel free to write the author an e-mail. You can send it to NWaggoner@blinktoday.org and let us know what you come across. We are also looking for partnerships with tech organizations that are looking to develop their brand. Give us a shout at Connect@blinktoday.org we look forward to hearing from you! Also, please make sure to sign up to receive updates on new blog posts. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, visit us on Twitter, and other social media by clicking in our footer on the webpage!
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