[Nfbmo] Fwd: [nfbmi-talk] Device for the Blind by Toyota

[Fred Olver]

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Terry D. Eagle via nfbmi-talk" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Date: April 16, 2016 at 7:36:12 PM CDT
> To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: "Terry D. Eagle" <terrydeagle at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Device for the Blind by Toyota
> Reply-To: terrydeagle at yahoo.com, NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> 
> 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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