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I have been asked to circulate the below message. I am doing so so
that you just get one copy, not a bunch on a bunch of our lists.<br><br>
Dave<br><br>
<br><br>
<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Hi Everyone, <br><br>
We are a start-up company based in Toronto called iMerciv and we wanted
to let people know about the development of our new product that caters
to the orientation and mobility needs of those living with vision loss.
The device has been street tested and very well received by blind and low
vision communities in Canada hence our excitement to let your members
know about it. The newly launched BuzzClip is a small and discreet
wearable device that helps those living with vision loss with day to day
traveling by detecting obstacles in one’s immediate environment and
then notifying the wearer of these obstacles through intuitive
vibrations. It uses ultrasound to detect any obstacle it is pointing at
and vibrates faster and stronger as the obstacle/person gets closer.
<br><br>
The BuzzClip is an electronic device that offers upper body protection
that is sometimes missed by a guide dog or cane. It is not meant to be a
replacement for the cane or a guide dog rather it is supposed to work in
tandem with traditional aids to provide the user more information on
their surroundings, particularly at head level. The BuzzClip can be
easily attached to many forms of clothing (i.e it can be clipped on a
lapel of a winter jacket, on a collar, sleeves (long or short) and the
lining of one’s belt) making it a highly versatile and useful
device.<br><br>
There have indeed been many proximity detectors that came out over the
years. And the earlier ones definitely caused a lot of frustration as the
functionality and reliability were far from advertised. But we have been
working closely and testing our prototypes every step of the way with
blind and partially sighted testers in Canada, the U.S and India.
Although we do use the same ultrasonic technology, the technology has
become much more refined over the years. Also The Buzzclip is not just
another ultrasonic proximity detector. The fact that it is wearable and
hands free makes it applicable in a lot more use cases. Some of our
testers have been using it in line ups at coffee shops to determine when
the line is moving forward. Some of them have been using it as a way
finder in tight spaces or crowded rooms by walking in the directions
where the Buzzclip doesn't detect anything. Some have found it useful as
they would be able to tell if the person they are conversing with got up
to get water and when they get back. It provides extra information on
one's surroundings passively and users are constantly finding new ways to
use this extra information. <br><br>
The BuzzClip is currently available to pre-order through a crowdfunding
campaign on Indiegogo. For the next 15 days, we are offering Early Bird
BuzzClips at a discounted price of $129 USD. After this campaign ends on
November 22nd, the final batch of BuzzClips will be manufactured and
shipped to our supporters by March of 2016.<br>
More information/videos on our product can be found here:
<a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-buzzclip-wearable-ultrasound-for-the-blind/x/11673979#/">
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-buzzclip-wearable-ultrasound-for-the-blind/x/11673979#/</a>
<br>
The link above is our Indiegogo page address and Indiegogo is one of the
largest Crowdfunding websites in the world that is based in the United
States just like Kickstarter.<br>
If you have any difficulty navigating through the campaign page, the
Indiegogo app on the iphone is completely accessible and incase you want
to order an Early Bird BuzzClip, here is the direct link to place an
order:
<a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-buzzclip-wearable-ultrasound-for-the-blind/contributions/new/#/contribute?perk_amt=129&perk_id=3095246">
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-buzzclip-wearable-ultrasound-for-the-blind/contributions/new/#/contribute?perk_amt=129&perk_id=3095246</a>
<br>
You can also hear our spotlight interview on Cool Blind Tech as
well as on Blind Bargains Qast 39 for more info.<br><br>
A lot of effort was put into optimizing the user experience of the
device. Limiting it to 1m and 2m modes reduces false positives and only
provides vibratory feedback if there are obstacles or people in your path
or coming directly at you. The device goes to sleep if you are at a fixed
distance for over a few seconds so that it doesn't constantly vibrate if
you are talking to someone for example. It reactivates again if the
distance changes for more than 10 cm. So once it is switched on, the user
can simply carry on their usual routine without the need to operate the
device constantly. The battery will last for a full days use (10 hours)
on a single charge and it is rechargeable through a Micro-USB cable.
(just like android phones)<br><br>
The Buzzclip is slightly larger than a lighter. The enclosure is made
entirely of aluminum so that it is water resistant and durable and also
very aesthetically pleasing. The device consists of 3 main sections, a
sensor arm that is circular and smaller than the size of an iPod nano in
terms of area. It is connected to the battery enclosure by a metallic
spring clip that is similar to the ones on pocket knifes and multi-tools.
The main body is rectangular with rounded edges and is roughly the size
of a lighter. The micro-USB charging port is on the side of the main
body. On the back of the main body is the vibration motor arm which is
spring-loaded for when one is wearing loose clothing. The entire unit has
a finish that is similar to the look and feel of the Apple TV remote.
When it is worn, the only part that will be exposed is the circular
sensor arm. <br><br>
Hope this information helps and is useful to some of you. If you have any
questions for us, we would be happy to answer them. <br>
The Founders names are Bin Liu and Arjun Mali and you can reach them
at +1 (647) 919 6565 for Bin and +1 (647) 919 9269 for Arjun.<br>
You can also contact us at
<a href="mailto:info@imerciv.com">info@imerciv.com</a> <br><br>
Thank You & Best Regards,<br><br>
<font color="#531B93"><b>Arjun Mali<br>
</b></font><font color="#797979"><i>Co-Founder & Chief Financial
Officer<br>
iMerciv Inc.<br>
</i></font><font color="#531B93">Email:</font>
<a href="mailto:arjunmali@imerciv.com"><font color="#797979">
arjunmali@imerciv.com</a></font> .
<font color="#531B93">Phone:</font>
<font color="#797979">(647)-919-9269
.
</font><a href="http://www.imerciv.com"><b>www.imerciv.com</a><br>
</b><br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
</blockquote>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<x-tab> </x-tab>David
Andrews and long white cane Harry.<br>
E-Mail: dandrews@visi.com or david.andrews@nfbnet.org<br>
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