[Nfbf-l] Attitudes toward Blindness - Argentine student invents 'smart shoe'

[Alan Dicey]

Dear Friends,
This concept of technical developments in this article is  not new, but a 
few sentences in it disturbed me.
And that is why I post this article.
I know personally, the attitudes toward the Blind in South America are a lot 
different from those in the States and Canada.
See the article and you will see what I mean.
With Best Regards,
God Bless,
Alan
Plantation, Florida
- -
Argentine student invents 'smart shoe' to replace cane for the blind
Argentine student invents 'smart shoe' to replace cane for the blind
Published time: November 16, 2014 Edited time: November 16, 2014
An Argentine student has invented shoes with ultrasound sensors which allow 
people with visual impairments to walk without a cane. The shoes vibrate 
when the wearer approaches an object.
The new shoes for blind people, dubbed 'Duspavoni,' were developed by Juan 
Manuel Bustamante, a student at Industrial College #4, and presented at the 
National Science Fair in Buenos Aires on Friday. He says he worked on the 
project for six months.
"I wish Duspavoni, my creation, could get to revolutionize the lives of 
people with sight problems, partial or total visual impairment," he told 
Ruptly.
The shoes have three ultrasound sensors placed inside the sole - in the 
frontal, lateral, and back areas. The sensors emit ultrasound waves which 
are reflected by surrounding objects and come back to the sensor. The shoe 
vibrates depending on the distance and position of the objects.
"The closer the object is, the more the device vibrates," Bustamante said. 
"If the object is ahead, the tip of the shoe vibrates. If it is on the side, 
the sole vibrates, and if it is behind, the heel vibrates."
The device can detect different kinds of materials, people, and animals 
within a 25-inch (63.5 centimeter) radius of the wearer. It is equipped with 
rechargeable batteries which can be charged by a USB cable connected to a 
computer, or even by a mobile phone charger. The time needed for a total 
charge is about five hours. The owner can then use the shoes for three or 
four days.
The inventor said the idea for Duspavoni came after a conversation with a 
friend who was losing her vision. He created the shoes to replace the 
traditional white cane with something more discreet, which may create less 
of a social stigma.
"She told me young blind people do not like the cane because they feel it 
stigmatizes them," Bustamente told EFE. "The shoes have been conceived for 
young blind people, between 10 and 25 years old, as they are most refusing 
to use the white cane."

http://rt.com/news/206027-shoes-blind-ultrasound-cane/

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