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

[Bryan Schulz]

Hi,

If they do, I hope they don't invest all that time and money to just let it
sit in a garage.
Bryan


-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbmo [mailto:nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Peter Donahue via
Nfbmo
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2016 12:02 PM
To: NFB of Missouri Mailing List
Cc: Peter Donahue
Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] Fwd: [nfbmi-talk] Device for the Blind by Toyota


Hello everyone,

     I'd be curious to know if Toyota plans to integrate this device in 
to their self-driving vehicles assuming they have any under development 
to enable a blind person to "Drive" them independently. Here's hoping 
they'll develop an interface similar to that developed by the NFB and 
Virginia Tech to allow the blind to operate self-driving vehicles 
independently.

Peter Donahue

Fred Olver via Nfbmo wrote:
>
> 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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m
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