[nfbwatlk] hmmm, what do you think of this? Fw: Accessible Devices Press Release: New Cross Walk Safety System ForThe Visually Impaired

Fri Nov 7 02:35:30 UTC 2008

Hi,
Here's that dreaded subject again.  What do you think of this?
Thanks
Lauren
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Parker at Vip conduit" <Vipcomm at mchsi.com>
To: "Accessible Devices" <a-d at accessible-devices.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 10:48 AM
Subject: Accessible Devices Press Release: New Cross Walk Safety System 
ForThe Visually Impaired


> This is the first we've heard of this and we have no further information.
> Developing the Corner of Blind Avenue and Safety Way
> MOSCOW, Idaho - For the 21.2 million Americans who suffer from vision 
> loss,
> crossing the street can be a stressful and potentially dangerous
> proposition. Thanks to engineers at the University of Idaho, many visually
> impaired individuals soon may have a greatly reduced risk thanks to a tool
> already in their pockets - their cell phone.
> The statistics for vision loss, provided by the American Foundation for 
> the
> Blind, include anyone reporting difficulty seeing, even while wearing
> glasses or contact lenses. No matter the level of visual impairment, many
> conditions - including visual noise, walking at night and irregular
> intersections - can result in missing a crosswalk.
> Regardless of conditions, the new system being developed in Moscow, Idaho,
> will make intersections safer and easier to navigate.
> "Minute for minute on the road, any pedestrian is 150 percent more likely 
> to
> be injured by a car than somebody driving one," said Richard Wall, 
> professor
> of electrical and computer engineering. "But it is pretty apparent that 
> the
> blind pedestrians are the ones most at risk at intersections."
> The new technology utilizes features already available in many cellular
> phones, including communications, Global Positioning Satellite (GPS)
> functions and magnetic compasses to help visually impaired pedestrians.
> Specialized software allows these pedestrians to activate the crossing
> signal remotely without having to locate the physical button.
> Then, the GPS system monitors the position and direction of travel while
> crossing. As long as the crosser stays within the crosswalk, nothing
> happens. But stray outside the lines, and an audible warning activates
> alerting the pedestrian of their danger. It then provides directions on 
> how
> to get back within the safety zone. Should the walker somehow end up in 
> the
> middle of the intersection, the system automatically would turn every 
> light
> red, stopping traffic and averting a potential disaster.
> "It's true that this would disrupt the timing of the signal patterns when 
> it
> gets activated," said Wall. "But we would much rather disrupt them for a 
> few
> seconds than for a half hour while an ambulance assists a traffic victim."
> To ensure people don't trigger the alarm just for fun, only those who need
> the help would be able to acquire the necessary software.
> The system requires more than software, however. It also requires the
> installation of new hardware in thousands of lights across the country.
> Luckily, Wall and his team have found a solution that not only is cost
> effective, it simplifies the existing system.
> Many crosswalks currently have handicapped-assisted signals that provide
> help such as audio tones indicating when it is safe to cross. However, the
> box that controls the intersection contains a massive amount of wiring. 
> This
> is necessary to connect each actuator with each signal so at any given 
> time,
> the control box knows each state.
> Wall's new system simplifies each box to only two wires, both already
> required to power the signals. It uses a technology called Ethernet over
> power line, which allows information to be broadcast over power lines.
> The future is clear for Wall and his research team. They have established
> dates to deliver the engineering and expect field trials to commence in
> June. They are building prototypes supported by funds from the University
> Transportation Centers program, Idaho's Higher Education Research Council
> and their commercial partner, Campbell Company, who currently makes the
> accessible pedestrian signals that chirp and talk for the handicapped.
> "The signals we're building are more than prototypes. These devices 
> actually
> can go into the field and work today," said Wall. "We're using existing
> infrastructure and communicating intelligence over it. It's cost 
> effective,
> it simplifies the connection to two wires and it can be immediately
> installed in all the existing crosswalks in the country."
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