[Njtechdiv] interesting app

[Kevin]

On 3/17/2015 1:51 PM, Mario Brusco via Njtechdiv wrote:
> Hi, I'm not sure if this app is for the iPhone or Android phones, but since
> the venture involves Microsoft, it's probly going to be developed for
> Windows phones too:
>
> Seen in Visionary - International Guide Dogs Federation magazine, February
> 2015.
> "Cities Unlocked" - exploring the world using 3D Soundscapes".
> John Shelton - "Cities Unlocked" Programme, Manager, Guide Dogs UK.
>
> Background:
> In 2013 Guide Dogs and Microsoft created a film called A Family Day
> Out to demonstrate technology concepts that could greatly enhance the
> quality of
> life for blind and visually impaired people.
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FcwzLLYZiI
>
> Following the launch of the film, Guide Dogs and Microsoft teamed up with
> Future Cities Catapult to research and pilot some of the concepts; the
> programme of work is called Cities Unlocked. To bring the concepts imagined
> in the film to life, we conducted an in-depth analysis of current technology
> and transport issues affecting intermodal:
> journeys made by people who are blind or partially sighted. This research
> identified the key stress points in their journeys and possible solutions to
> alleviate them. We then set about designing and developing prototype
> technologies that, with a little training and practice, dissolve into the
> background of the user experience to enhance but not hinder cognitive
> ability. The pilot technologies are moving us closer to Social Computing
> whereby places, points of interest and objects are aware of each other, and
> are contextually aware of us and our social interactions.
>
> How the technology works:
> Crudely speaking, there are three aspects to the technology:
> 1. A "Cities Unlocked" Smartphone app that can be used with just one hand.
> 2. A bone-conducting headset containing a Gyro, GPS and Accelerometer to
> place information in 3D space relative to the direction the user is facing.
> 3. A boosted environment using GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth Low Energy beacons to
> aid orientation, navigation, transport and retail experiences Once user
> preferences have been set and a route selected, the phone can be stowed in a
> pocket or bag, leaving the user free to go about their business whilst
> receiving useful information through the headset in a unique 3D Soundscape.
> Additional buttons mounted on the headset, allow the user to access more
> information on the move without needing to take the phone out of their bag
> or pocket.
>
> Here are examples of some of the features:
> If the user is facing in the wrong direction they hear a clip-clop sound
> coming from the direction that they should be facing. The user rotates
> towards the clip-clop sound, and when they are facing in the right direction
> they will hear a gentle ping sound. The ping sound plots the route, so the
> user simply follows the ping whilst using their guide dog or cane.
>
> Along the route the user receives navigation information e.g. "turn left in
> 20 metres".
> They also receive contextual information e.g. "dropped curb approximately 3
> metres" or "caution, this street regularly has cars parked on the pavement".
>
> Points of interest, shops and street furniture are also announced in 3D
> Soundscape - it sounds as though the announcement is coming from the
> direction of the point of interest. If the user changes direction the
> announcement automatically changes direction accordingly.
>
> Bus stops, bus timetables, and when the next bus is approaching are
> announced. On the bus journey the technology continues to announce
> approaching stops and points of interest that the bus is passing. It also
> works in a similar fashion on train journeys.
>
> Results from our user trials:
> We conducted a trial with 8 participants and used data collection tools to
> assess mobility and quality of life factors while the participants undertook
> a long, complex and unfamiliar intermodal journey without the technology.
> This provided a baseline measure against which to measure any positive or
> negative effects when travelling the same journey some weeks later using the
> technology.
> The illustration shows the improvements across 17 well being measures in six
> areas; physiology, orientation skills, cognitive/conceptual skills, mobility
> skills, safety skills, and use of residual vision (for those that had some).
> The pink area shows results using their normal mobility aid, the blue area
> shows the improvement when the technology is used alongside the mobility
> aid.
> The results show that the concept is a success in helping VI people's
> mobility. Importantly, none of the markers showed a negative impact, and the
> results indicate that the technology is a complement to traditional mobility
> aids.
>
> Next steps:
> Recognizing that the solutions need to be sustainable on their own merit,
> otherwise they will raise expectations and lead to disappointment, we have
> now started planning for Phase 2 to incorporate the lessons learned into a
> bigger and more ambitious project. We know that what we are doing is
> important globally - but we must all remember that what we are doing isn't
> really about the technology; it is about people and the user experience.
>
> Watch the Cities Unlocked film with audio description:
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=949D1IhKKYs
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Njtechdiv mailing list
> Njtechdiv at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/njtechdiv_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Njtechdiv:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/njtechdiv_nfbnet.org/kevinsisco61784%40gmail.com
This looks amazing!


---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.
http://www.avast.com