[nfb-talk] Guide Bots
Mark Tardif
markspark at roadrunner.com
Wed May 29 23:11:20 UTC 2013
I got my first cane in 1971, when I was fourteen and, like someone else
mentioned, as part of a summer program which included 6 weeks of orientation
and mobility.
Mark Tardif
Nuclear arms will not hold you.
-----Original Message-----
From: Sheila Leigland
Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2013 4:32 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Guide Bots
I feel like I'm from the dark ages. lol. I didn't get my first cane
until i was eighteen. I went to public school growing up in my part of
California none that I knew used a cane at school. I'm totally blind and
looking back I'm amazed I didn't kill myself. I use a cane but now have
my second guide dog and love it but I know there will be times that I
need to use a cane so keep one on hand.
On 5/29/2013 8:08 AM, Prows, Bennett (HHS/OCR) wrote:
> Terry and Listers,
>
> Back in the day, (sixties) not many blind kids learned to use the cane
> until our teen age years. When we did, it was at a summer program at the
> state school for the blind, and we had six weeks or so of O and M
> training. I took my cane with me to school, but often left it in my
> locker (back then we had full sized ones at our school). When the halls
> were crowded, etc, I learned that I had better take my cane with me to
> avoid embarrassing encounters with other people, particularly girls.
> (smile) So, I began using my cane all the time at school. I learned pretty
> quickly that my cane allowed me to be independent, and explained to others
> why I might smack into them once in a while. It didn't take long to
> develop my current attitude that the cane is a symbol of independence, not
> a badge of helplessness. Of course, I won't go anywhere without my cane
> now, and I do a fair bit of traveling for the job and sometimes for the
> NFB.
>
> Glad to hear you have overcome the hesitancy about using your cane, and
> don't feel awkward using it whenever and where ever you feel you need to.
> I don't use the cane in my house, but certainly do in the office area at
> work.
>
> Enjoy your travels.
>
> /s/
>
> Bennett Prows
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Powers,
> Terry (NIH/NCI) [E]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2013 5:51 AM
> To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Guide Bots
>
> I had a mom who was over protective and I did not get cane training
> until I was a tean. This made me fearful of using a cane, like I was
> publisizing that I was blind. I improved some and then met a husband who
> never wanted me to use a cane. He never really accepted my blindness.
> Now I am a free woman, again, the rest of my family accept me and my cane
> and my ability to be independent. If someone asks to assist me, I just
> tell them I can follow them. This usually happens with Metro Access. I
> had a bad fall, this winter, due to a bad curb cut and I find I use my
> cane, more and more. I only walk with out it in locations, I know well,
> like in the office. We just moved my office, so I walked around here for
> 3 weeks with a cane. There are parts of the building I still use a cane
> in, because there is a lot of glass.
> I have a sister with a learning problem and she likes to put her hand on
> my sholder and try to guide me. It drives me crazy, but I try to put up
> with it. She also puts my cane together, for me. I am fearful she will
> get hurt or I might get hit, while she is doing it. My other sister says,
> she is only trying to help. Thankfully, I have never had anyone ask me to
> leave my cane, behind. My cane is a part of me and others need to accept
> me the way I am.
>
> Terry Powers
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gloria Whipple [mailto:glowhi at centurylink.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 8:01 PM
> To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Guide Bots
>
> My family is still the same way. I cannot get it through their heads about
> being independent using the cane.
>
> Gloria Whipple
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Joshua
> Lester
> Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 15:16
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Guide Bots
>
> If it was someone that had never met a blind person before, it would be
> different.
> My problem is, that it's stupid family members that know better!
> You can fix ignorant all day long, but you can't fix stupid!
> Blessings, Joshua
> ________________________________________
> From: nfb-talk [nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Mark Tardif
> [markspark at roadrunner.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 5:12 PM
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Guide Bots
>
> It's sometimes very hard and one has to grit the teeth to avoid saying
> unpleasant things. But having said that, I think we do a better job of
> educating when we are gentle and sensitive to the fact that these people
> just don't know and are probably nervous as heck at meeting what very well
> might be their first blind person. But it isn't always easy.
>
> Mark Tardif
> Nuclear arms will not hold you.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joshua Lester
> Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 3:50 PM
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Guide Bots
>
> Me too!
> I can't stand ignorant people!
> 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 2:48 PM
> To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Guide Bots
>
> I also don't like it and I set them straight on what it is.
>
> Gloria Whipple
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Joshua
> Lester
> Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 12:46
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
> 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
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>>
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