[nfb-talk] Guide Bots

Tue May 28 19:58:49 UTC 2013

hi,

if that gets you torqed, you've got more problems than that!
Bryan Schulz

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joshua Lester" <JLester8462 at pccua.edu>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 2:45 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Guide Bots

> Hi, Mrs. Gloria!
> I get so tired of ignorant ideots calling my cane a "stick!"
> Blessings, Joshua
> ________________________________________
> From: nfb-talk [nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Gloria Whipple 
> [glowhi at centurylink.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 2:35 PM
> To: 'Misty Dawn Bradley'; 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Guide Bots
>
> Hi Misty,
>
> I agree with you on the GPS.
>
> I have had people tell me to leave my stick if I am going sighted guide 
> with
> them. I tell them that my so called stick is part of me. I don't leave 
> home
> without it.
>
> Gloria Whipple
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Misty 
> Dawn
> Bradley
> Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 10:42
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Guide Bots
>
> I am the same way. I have been using my cane since I was in kindergarten 
> or
> first grade, which is about 20 years ago, so I don't feel right when I 
> don't
>
> have my cane with me. I also like the challenge of figuring out things on 
> my
>
> own, although it is nice to have a GPS sometimes, but it is not a 
> necessity.
> Misty
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gloria Whipple" <glowhi at centurylink.net>
> To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 1:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Guide Bots
>
>
>>I am not sure about this. I am so use to using my cane and like it.
>>
>> Gloria Whipple
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Steve
>> Jacobson
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 10:28
>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Guide Bots
>>
>> Mike,
>>
>> To me, the idea of a device that is responsible for guiding, even if made
>> simpler as described here, adds so much complexity and
>> size that really has limited advantage to my way of thinking.  A small
>> device that could be mounted on a cane or connected to a
>> dog's leash to detect objects and provide feedback would provide most of
>> what a guiding device would without the size and other
>> complicating issues.  Why does it have to aim itself at all if the blind
>> person were to receive enough information to do the
>> aiming from a smaller travel aid?
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Steve Jacobson
>>
>>
>> On Tue, 28 May 2013 11:24:59 -0400, Michael Bullis wrote:
>>
>>>I've been thinking about a new travel device lately and would be
>>>interested
>>>in any feedback members might have.
>>
>>>I've been wondering lately if there is enough reasonably priced portable
>>>processing power available to make a guide bot.
>>
>>>From looking on the web there are a few projects, mostly not very
>>>efficient
>>>ones.  There is a company called nst that is working on it but expects to
>>>bring a product to market in the 2020's.  The reason most projects are so
>>>difficult is that they are spending inordinate amounts of time and money
>>>teaching the guide bots to climb stairs and fully "lead" the blind
>>>person.
>>>We know this is unnecessary.
>>
>>>If you remove the necessity to "lead" the blind person the project 
>>>becomes
>>>much simpler.
>>
>>>The device doesn't need to climb stairs.  The blind person can simply 
>>>lift
>>>it up or down.  This assumes of course that it is a lightweight  device.
>>
>>>For example, suppose you have a two wheeled device with two forward 
>>>facing
>>>cameras  and a handle on it that you direct.  You push the device down 
>>>the
>>>sidewalk let's say.  When it detects an object that you should go around,
>> to
>>>the left, the left wheel has a brake on it.  When the left brake engages
>> and
>>>slows the left wheel, the device naturally turns that direction.  The 
>>>same
>>>thing happens if you want to go right.  If there's a curb coming, both
>>>wheels slowly engage their brakes.
>>
>>>At any time, if you as the person in charge wish to override the braking,
>>>you simply give a quick shove to the device.
>>
>>>The blind person provides the forward motion, eliminating any need for
>>>motive power.  The only thing the device needs power for is processing 
>>>and
>>>braking.
>>
>>>Whether verbally, or with a small keypad, you tell the device what you
>>>want
>>>it to do.  If the device is going to talk to you at all it needs to be
>>>through an open-ear earbud.  But this may be unnecessary.
>>
>>>
>>
>>>I believe it would require two cameras for measuring distance and for
>>>scanning both in front and to the sides.
>>
>>>In order for the device to be practical it would have to solve problems
>> that
>>>the cane and most dogs don't solve.  That is, it would have to detect
>>>objects at head height.  And, it would have to be fast.  The thing that
>>>limits a cane user in new territory is the necessity of slowing down 
>>>while
>>>detecting an object and moving around it.
>>
>>>
>>
>>>I place a list of things below that are within reach of today's 
>>>technology
>>>but I'm not sure if they are within the practical financial boundaries of
>>>a
>>>marketable device.
>>
>>>I thought those of you who think about matters like this might weigh in 
>>>on
>>>this and let me know.
>>
>>>Here is my list of things the device could do.
>>
>>>1.  avoiding objects-people and other interferences to the path of travel
>>
>>>2.  Detecting objects as high as one's head.
>>
>>>3.  identifying curbs and ramps
>>
>>>4.  recognizing intersecting sidewalks or other paths of travel
>>
>>>5.  finding doors
>>
>>>6.  locating up or down stairs
>>
>>>7.  locating elevators
>>
>>>8.  locating elevator buttons
>>
>>>9.  finding restrooms
>>
>>>10.  finding empty urinals
>>
>>>11.  finding empty seats on busses or in conference rooms
>>
>>>12.  returning to an already found seat
>>
>>>13.  finding a bus stop
>>
>>>14.  finding a specific address
>>
>>>15.  following an indicated person
>>
>>>
>>
>>>I'd be interested in feedback on this idea.
>>
>>>If you wish to write me off-line, do so at
>>
>>>mbullis at imagemd.org
>>
>>>Thanks for your thinking.
>>
>>>Mike
>>
>>>
>>
>>>
>>
>>>
>>
>>>
>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>nfb-talk mailing list
>>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nfb-talk:
>>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/steve.jacobson%40vis
> i
>> .com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfb-talk mailing list
>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nfb-talk:
>>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/glowhi%40centurylink.n
>> et
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfb-talk mailing list
>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nfb-talk:
>>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/mistydbradley%40gmail.
> com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfb-talk mailing list
> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nfb-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/glowhi%40centurylink.n
> et
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfb-talk mailing list
> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nfb-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/jlester8462%40pccuaedu.onmicrosoft.com
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfb-talk mailing list
> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nfb-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/b.schulz%40sbcglobal.net 