[il-talk] The BuzzClip - Wearable Technology for the Blind
Gregory Rosenberg
gregg at ricis.com
Fri Nov 13 14:13:01 UTC 2015
Good morning Lin, and everyone on the list,
I have seen a similar product that was developed in the U.S. I also ran across a project plan for building such a device a few months ago. I have personally not heard of this company or their initiative. Their press release can be found at: http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canadian-start-up-creates-a-buzz-for-the-blind-with-new-wearable-tech-532638901.html <http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canadian-start-up-creates-a-buzz-for-the-blind-with-new-wearable-tech-532638901.html>.
In case anyone is interested in further reading and research on this topic I have added a lot of good information below. I may setup a website with a comprehensive collection of all the the resources I have found if there is sufficient interest in the topic of R&D and available products for obstacle detection, personal safety, and navigation aids for the blind.
FYI - The following is quite long, but will give you many hours of interesting reading on the subject of travel aids.
Technologies:
Intel released their Curie micro controller a few months ago. This is a computer about the size of a large button.
See: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/wearables/wearable-soc.html <http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/wearables/wearable-soc.html>.
I attended a Human Computer Interface (HCI) course that Microsoft (MS) gave nearly a decade ago on-line in conjunction with the University of Seattle. They showed off some really amazing technologies that were in development and discussed the design concepts for each. MS has just released the development kit for their HoloLens product to developers. See: http://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-hololens/en-us/developers <http://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-hololens/en-us/developers>. Painfully it costs $3,500 to get their prototype hardware and software development kit. So it will be a while before I can acquire that technology. Although it is mostly intended for signed individuals, I believe its technologies could be leveraged for 3D object recognition. This technology will likely be out of the reach for most of us, but should become affordable in about 10 to 15 years once it becomes a commodity item.
There is a comparison of MS and Oculus Rift technologies at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2015/01/30/showdown-the-differences-between-microsoft-hololens-and-oculus-rift <http://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2015/01/30/showdown-the-differences-between-microsoft-hololens-and-oculus-rift>.
Electronic travel aids: (A bit dated from 2008)
https://books.google.com/books?id=HIBPnRAhh-gC&pg=PA306&dq=build+a+sonar+sensor+cane+blind&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CD4Q6AEwA2oVChMI3I2wj8-LyQIViNgeCh2PeQkb#v=onepage&q=build%20a%20sonar%20sensor%20cane%20blind&f=false <https://books.google.com/books?id=HIBPnRAhh-gC&pg=PA306&dq=build+a+sonar+sensor+cane+blind&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CD4Q6AEwA2oVChMI3I2wj8-LyQIViNgeCh2PeQkb#v=onepage&q=build%20a%20sonar%20sensor%20cane%20blind&f=false>
I have not personally vetted any of the following products or design ideas, but this will still give you a good sense of the state of the art in travel aids. The following lists are by no means complete.
Currently available electronic aids for the blind.
http://www.noogenesis.com/eta/current.html <http://www.noogenesis.com/eta/current.html>
On electronic travel aids design.
http://www.noogenesis.com/eta/design.html <http://www.noogenesis.com/eta/design.html>
Electronic travel aid patents.
http://www.noogenesis.com/eta/patents.html <http://www.noogenesis.com/eta/patents.html>
There are literally hundreds of papers written on this topic and many dozens of initiatives creating assertive technologies for obstacle detection and navigation for those in our community. Here are just a few of the hundreds of articles I have read over the past few years.
Obstacle detection software for the visually impaired:
http://sgitt-otri.ua.es/en/empresa/documentos/ot-1308-detecting-obstacles-blind-eng.pdf <http://sgitt-otri.ua.es/en/empresa/documentos/ot-1308-detecting-obstacles-blind-eng.pdf>
A smart phone based obstacle detection system:
http://www.cv-foundation.org/openaccess/content_iccv_workshops_2013/W16/papers/Tapu_A_Smartphone-Based_Obstacle_2013_ICCV_paper.pdf <http://www.cv-foundation.org/openaccess/content_iccv_workshops_2013/W16/papers/Tapu_A_Smartphone-Based_Obstacle_2013_ICCV_paper.pdf>
Voice based navigation system for blind people using an ultrasonic sensor:
http://www.ijritcc.org/download/1435907850.pdf <http://www.ijritcc.org/download/1435907850.pdf>
Wearable obstacle detection system for the blind:
http://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/99014/files/haptex05.pdf <http://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/99014/files/haptex05.pdf>
An obstacle detection system for the blind:
http://www.iaeng.org/publication/WCE2011/WCE2011_pp1602-1605.pdf <http://www.iaeng.org/publication/WCE2011/WCE2011_pp1602-1605.pdf>
Smart obstacle detector for blind person:
http://scholarpublishing.org/index.php/JBEMi/article/view/245 <http://scholarpublishing.org/index.php/JBEMi/article/view/245>
Kinecthesia - Obstacle detection belt for the blind:
http://developkinect.com/news/development/kinecthesia-obstacle-detection-belt-blind <http://developkinect.com/news/development/kinecthesia-obstacle-detection-belt-blind>
Obstacle detection gadget for visually impaired people:
http://www.ijetae.com/files/Volume2Issue12/IJETAE_1212_74.pdf <http://www.ijetae.com/files/Volume2Issue12/IJETAE_1212_74.pdf>
Hi-tech glasses aim to assist the blind with directions and obstacle detection:
http://www.gizmag.com/stereoscopic-ultrasound-gps-ai-glasses-blind-assistance/32166/ <http://www.gizmag.com/stereoscopic-ultrasound-gps-ai-glasses-blind-assistance/32166/>
iSonar - An obstacle detection system for the totally blind:
http://www.assistiverehabtechnology.net/index.php/jartt/article/view/23114 <http://www.assistiverehabtechnology.net/index.php/jartt/article/view/23114>
Obstacle detection for the visually impaired:
http://www.academia.edu/10277732/Obstacle_Detection_For_Visually_Impaired <http://www.academia.edu/10277732/Obstacle_Detection_For_Visually_Impaired>
The GuideCane - A computerized travel aid for the active guidance of blind pedestrians:
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~johannb/Papers/Paper65/Paper65.html <http://www-personal.umich.edu/~johannb/Papers/Paper65/Paper65.html>
For those of you that are electronically inclined makers here are some projects to consider:
Sonar Eye - Let the blind ‘see' objects with audio and vibration:
http://www.utopiamechanicus.com/article/2012/08/ <http://www.utopiamechanicus.com/article/2012/08/>
The Bat Hat:
http://people.ece.cornell.edu/land/courses/ece4760/FinalProjects/f2013/jjb284_cc697_adk75/jjb284_cc697_adk75/ <http://people.ece.cornell.edu/land/courses/ece4760/FinalProjects/f2013/jjb284_cc697_adk75/jjb284_cc697_adk75/>
SensCap is a device that guides the visually impaired around objects.
http://people.ece.cornell.edu/land/courses/ece4760/FinalProjects/s2011/zb34_lc465/zb34_lc465/ <http://people.ece.cornell.edu/land/courses/ece4760/FinalProjects/s2011/zb34_lc465/zb34_lc465/>
Blind audio guidance system:
http://files.spogel.com/abstracts/p-0212--audio_guidance_for_blind.pdf <http://files.spogel.com/abstracts/p-0212--audio_guidance_for_blind.pdf>
Infrared proximity sensor:
http://www.idc-online.com/technical_references/pdfs/instrumentation/Infra_-_Red_Proximity_Sensor_Part%201.pdf <http://www.idc-online.com/technical_references/pdfs/instrumentation/Infra_-_Red_Proximity_Sensor_Part%201.pdf>
SharkVision - A sensing suite for the blind:
http://www.prutchi.com/2012/02/12/sharkvision-a-sensing-suit-for-the-blind-by-hannah-prutchi/ <http://www.prutchi.com/2012/02/12/sharkvision-a-sensing-suit-for-the-blind-by-hannah-prutchi/>
The RainCane:
https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/bitstream/handle/1774.2/33709/Challenge%20Report%20v3.pdf <https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/bitstream/handle/1774.2/33709/Challenge%20Report%20v3.pdf>
Haptic feedback shoes let the blind see with every step:
http://bsteady.blogspot.com/2011/12/haptic-feedback-shoes-let-blind-see.html <http://bsteady.blogspot.com/2011/12/haptic-feedback-shoes-let-blind-see.html>
Haptic feedback device for the visually impaired:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Haptic-Feedback-device-for-the-Visually-Impaired/ <http://www.instructables.com/id/Haptic-Feedback-device-for-the-Visually-Impaired/>
Optical sensing walking stick for the visually impaired:
http://extremeelectronics.co.in/news/obstacle-sensing-walking-stick-for-visually-impaired-persons/ <http://extremeelectronics.co.in/news/obstacle-sensing-walking-stick-for-visually-impaired-persons/>
You can search Google (or Google Images) with keywords like: "schematic sensor cane blind” to find lots of projects you can build.
P.S. I started working on a device in March of this year that I am going to give the design to NFB free of charge. My design (at least my goal) will use ultrasound / sonar (distance and obstacle detection), radar (density), sound (sound recognition), and a camera (visual identification), coupled with an integrated GPS (location awareness) and accelerometer (monitoring your direction of travel and angle of ascent or decent). I have purchased all of the components. Once they arrive it will take me maybe a year or so to assemble the prototype hardware and write the software and have it ready for acceptance testing.
> On 2015Nov 12, at 11:28, Lin H. via il-talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org <mailto:il-talk at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
>
>
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> From: Ruda, Sharon
> Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2015 9:31 AM
> To: 'Jane Teeter' ; Anthony Chandler ; Bogdan, William ; Debbie Watson ; Deliah Jackson ; mailto:iwannacu2 at sbcglobal.net <mailto:iwannacu2 at sbcglobal.net> ; larry at jacil.org <mailto:larry at jacil.org> ; Margaret Varney ; Maryann Bartkowski ; tonitesfaye at gmail.com <mailto:tonitesfaye at gmail.com> ; william.sean.martin at gmail.com <mailto:william.sean.martin at gmail.com>
> Subject: The BuzzClip - Wearable Technology for the Blind
>
> I just received this info ad. I have no idea whether this has been vetted by the consumer organizations and found useful. I found it very interesting. Sharon
>
>
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> From: JunShuai Huang [mailto:ivorhuang412 at gmail.com <mailto:ivorhuang412 at gmail.com>]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 8:23 PM
> To: Ruda, Sharon
> Subject: The BuzzClip - Wearable Technology for the Blind
>
>
>
> Dear Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service,
>
>
>
> We are a start-up company based in Toronto called iMerciv and we wanted to let you know about the development of our new product that caters to the orientation and mobility needs of those living with vision loss. The device has been street tested and very well received by blind and low vision communities in Canada hence our excitement to let your members know about it. The newly launched BuzzClip is a small and discreet wearable device that helps those living with vision loss with day to day traveling by detecting obstacles in one’s immediate environment and then notifying the wearer of these obstacles through intuitive vibrations. It uses ultrasound to detect any obstacle it is pointing at and vibrates faster and stronger as the obstacle/person gets closer.
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> The BuzzClip is an electronic device that offers upper body protection that is sometimes missed by a guide dog or cane. It is not meant to be a replacement for the cane or a guide dog rather it is supposed to work in tandem with traditional aids to provide the user more information on their surroundings, particularly at head level. The BuzzClip can be easily attached to many forms of clothing (i.e it can be clipped on a lapel of a winter jacket, on a collar, sleeves (long or short) and the lining of one’s belt) making it a highly versatile and useful device.
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> Our current users are really finding the BuzzClip useful for a variety of different scenarios. A common one is standing in line ups (at a bank or coffee shop). Our users are able to gauge the distance to the person in front of them and follow the line based on the vibrations. It’s useful for finding doorways and hallways as well. People have also found it useful in social situations by being able to detect the person they are talking to and would also come to know when that person has left. Some of our testers use multiple BuzzClips at once for greater coverage and more information about their surroundings.
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> A lot of effort was put into optimizing the user experience of the device. Limiting it to 1m and 2m modes reduces false positives and only provides vibratory feedback if there are obstacles or people in your path or coming directly at you. The device goes to sleep if you are at a fixed distance from something or someone for over 3 seconds so that it doesn't constantly vibrate if you are talking to someone for example. It reactivates again if the distance changes for more than 10 cm. So once it is switched on, the user can simply carry on their usual routine without the need to operate the device constantly. The battery will last for a full days use (10 hours) on a single charge and it is rechargeable through a Micro-USB cable. (just like android phones)
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> More information/videos on our product can be found here:
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> https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-buzzclip-wearable-ultrasound-for-the-blind/x/11673979#/ <https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-buzzclip-wearable-ultrasound-for-the-blind/x/11673979#/>
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> The link above is our Indiegogo page address and Indiegogo is one of the largest Crowdfunding websites in the world that is based in the United States just like Kickstarter. For the next 10 days, we are offering the first 100 BuzzClips at a discounted price of $129 USD. (Only 30 left!) The price will increase to $149 after the Early Birds run out. We also offer bundle packs for an even bigger discount.
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> If anyone has difficulty navigating through the campaign page, the Indiegogo app on the iphone is completely accessible and incase one wants to order an Early Bird BuzzClip, here is the direct link to place an order: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-buzzclip-wearable-ultrasound-for-the-blind/contributions/new/#/contribute?perk_amt=129&perk_id=3095246 <https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-buzzclip-wearable-ultrasound-for-the-blind/contributions/new/#/contribute?perk_amt=129&perk_id=3095246>
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> Hope this information helps. Please share this information with your network as well as anyone who would benefit from using a device like this.
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> If you have any questions for us, we would be happy to answer them. You can send us an email at info at imerciv.com <mailto:info at imerciv.com>
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> You can also reach the founders of the company, Bin Liu and Arjun Mali at +1 (647) 919 6565 for Bin and +1 (647) 919 9269 for Arjun.
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> Thank You & Best Regards,
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> Arjun Mali
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> Co-Founder & Chief Financial Officer
>
> iMerciv Inc.
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> Email: arjunmali at imerciv.com <mailto:arjunmali at imerciv.com> . Phone: (647)-919-9269 . www.imerciv.com <http://www.imerciv.com/>
>
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"Happiness is not the absence of problems; but the ability to deal with them."
Steve Maraboli
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can have the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.
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--
73' & 75'
Gregory D. Rosenberg (AB9MZ)
gregg at ricis.com <mailto:gregg at ricis.com>
RICIS, Inc.
7849 Bristol Park Drive
Tinley Park, IL 60477-4594
http://www.ricis.com <http://www.ricis.com/>
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