[nfbmi-talk] Device for the Blind by Toyota

[Terry D. Eagle]

Toyota is developing a wearable device to help give blind and 
visually impaired people greater mobility, the manufacturer has said.

The gadget is worn on the shoulders and uses cameras to recognise 
surroundings, such as signs, then directs the wearer with speakers and 
vibration motors.

Details were released this week, though no release date has been set.

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) called it an 
exciting development.

The device has been produced by developers working on Project Blaid. 
They said they were working on plans to introduce mapping, object 
identification and
facial recognition technologies as well.

It comes after Microsoft said it had designed a headset that uses 
location and navigation data with a network of information beacons in 
urban locations
to talk visually impaired people around cities.

Robin Spinks, senior strategy manager at the RNIB, told the BBC: "This 
is a very exciting development within the rapidly growing field of 
wearable assistive
technology. Mobility is at the heart of so much in our society and a 
device like Blaid could open up limitless possibilities for millions of 
blind and
partially sighted people."

'Mobility'

In an announcement made this week, Toyota said the device was not meant 
to replace those aids currently available to blind and visually impaired 
people,
but to "help fill the gaps left by canes, dogs and basic GPS devices by 
providing users with more information about their surroundings".

In a video posted online,
it showed how the device could be used to distinguish between one door 
marked gentlemen's toilet and another marked exit. Toyota said it was 
primarily
intended to help users navigate indoors.

"Project Blaid is one example of how Toyota is leading the way to the 
future of mobility, when getting around will be about more than just 
cars," said
Toyota executive Simon Nagata. "We want to extend the freedom of 
mobility for all, no matter their circumstance, location or ability."

The firm said that, as part of the project - which is not linked to the 
manufacture of cars for which it is better known - it was asking 
employees to submit
videos of common indoor landmarks that developers could use to teach the 
device to recognise them
Posted originally by:

Victor Gouveia
Vice-President
Training Coordinator
VIP Tech
victor.gouveia at rogers.com

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