[Nfbf-l] The iGlasses Ultrasonic Mobility Aid supplements the White Cane or Guide Dog

Sun Mar 30 00:02:41 UTC 2014

Bill,

A post script, ps, to an article of ginormous import in the discussion to be or not to be innovative navigating through life in greater ease, safety and independence.

Hmm, to the naysayers  I have a few questions.......do you use the washboard down by the crick to get the washing done?  Are y'all striking two rocks to get the fire going to cook meals, keep the house warm when temps drop below a Florida freezing of about 70? What would life be without those innovative inventions, y'know, dishwasher, microwave, clothes dryer, wifi and so forth and so on.............I rest my case.   

Sent from my iPad...not my slate and stylus braille ...tie together, saddle the horse, send someone sighted .....

Brooke Evans 

> On Mar 29, 2014, at 4:34 PM, "Bill Outman" <woutman at earthlink.net> wrote:
> 
> Hello, Alan.  
> 
> I have a set of those iGlasses and have had some interesting experiences
> with them.  I feel they could be a helpful aid in some circumstances.  You
> get a little more environmental feedback than with just a cane.  One thing I
> have found useful is maintaining a certain distance from a wall and being
> aware it might turn, such as the angled walls you might have in a mall.  I
> have used them looking down to find the edge and turn of a table.  
> 
> I found at least one instance in which the feedback was confusing.  This
> happened while wearing the device and carrying an umbrella.  The iGlasses
> seemed to be detecting it shaft and perhaps even the spokes as well, thus
> masking things in the environment.  
> 
> Good concentration is still important when using these.  I had an incident
> at last summer's national convention while wearing them and attempting to go
> from the main hotel to the exhibit hall.  I was maneuvering toward the
> doorway to the covered walk and someone was giving me voice guidance to the
> door.  I was trying to cue in on that as well as the unit feedback and
> contending with other distractions in the hall.  I ended up smacking into
> the metal frame of the door and sustained some minor injuries.  
> 
> But there's also a larger issue about mobility augmentations in general that
> I want to raise.  
> 
> It seems there are some in NFB who object to any travel tool other than the
> white cane and/or guide dog, or perhaps accessible GPS on a mobile device,
> as being unnecessary.  That may be the case for someone whose physical
> mobility is perfect.  Mine isn't and it has been the source of great
> constrranation for me.  More on that later.  
> 
> This attitude reared its head when you posted to this list and NFB-TALK the
> article on the shoe inserts that were being developed in India.  
> 
> This was decried as being somewhat condescending or paternalistic, not
> recognizing the abilities of the blind,  and that the developers would
> themselves eventually realize their invention is unnecessary technology.
> Never mind there are some of us with physical and/or neurological issues
> that make walking a bit more challenging.  It's tough when you have the
> mental understanding of mobility but have difficulty physically executing
> the skills, and you are not quite impaired enough to need a walker or
> wheelchair.  
> 
> I didn't have the heart to wade into the critical thread on this issue on
> NFB-TALK in response to your post last fall and do battle with some of the
> posters on this issue.  
> 
> There have been a number of previous attempts to develop mobility devices
> that would complement the white cane or guide dog.  I remember at one time
> there were shoes that some M. I. T. students had developed.  At the 2004
> national convention, Dr. Maurer in his banquet address criticized this
> project because as he put it, we, the blind, had not been consulted.  It is
> perhaps true those shoes were overdone and the way they were described they
> were almost certainly too bulky.  At the same convention, which was my
> first, I tried a prototype of a wearable device NFB was developing that
> seemed to have great promise, something called the Traveler.  It seemed to
> be just what I would need, but it never got to the stage where it would be
> marketable.  The two experiences taken together seemed slightly incongruous.
> 
> 
> While it is important to critique development of technology and have input
> into its development, it also is important to do it in a way that doesn't
> alienate those able and willing to be helpful to us.  We don't want, in
> addition, to develop an attitude of NIH about innovation, which in this case
> stands for Not Invented Here instead of National Institutes of Health.  
> 
> Here are some of the personal reasons for my interest in this field.  My
> physical problem is having nearly flat feet and steps that are uneven
> sometimes in distance and angle.  I know these problems but can't seem to
> correct them in real time.  When I had some functional vision I could
> correct for it, but when I became totally blind the issues were completely
> betrayed, thus making some forms of travel such as crossing streets unsafe
> and others such as walking in buildings I don't use all the time stressful.
> Even while I had vision I was occasionally made fun of for my uneven, wobbly
> walk.  I remember in particular some incidents of this back in Illinois
> where I am originally from when I was attending their state school for the
> blind.  
> 
> I have another concept that might be worth trying. In addition to the mobile
> GPS we might try taking advantage of themotion processing and compass apps
> that are available.  
> 
> I have admired through the years many of your posts concerning advances in
> technology that could help the blind and perhaps even restore vision.  
> 
> I don't remember ever meeting you at any conventions or in any other setting
> but perhaps we could do so at some point.  
> 
> I would welcome further discussion with you off list about all these issues.
> 
> 
> Bill Outman 
> Secretary, Greater Daytona Beach Chapter 
> National Federation of the Blind 
> Email: woutman at earthlink.net 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Alan Dicey
> Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 12:05 PM
> To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
> Subject: [Nfbf-l] The iGlasses Ultrasonic Mobility Aid supplements the White
> Cane or Guide Dog
> 
> Dear Friends,
> 
> Passing this along, it sounds interesting, and the price is right.
> 
> I would like to  hear from some one who has purchased  and used these
> "iGlasses Ultrasonic Mobility Aid". 
> 
> 
> 
> worn like a normal pair of glasses, offers an early warning about objects at
> head or chest height, above the level that can be explored with a white
> cane. Objects are detected by the ultrasonic sensors and communicated via
> gentle vibrations. As the traveler moves closer to the detected mailbox,
> tree limb, or wall, the speed of the vibration will increase. The device is
> intended as a secondary mobility device to compliment the cane or dog guide.
> Two styles are offered: Clear lenses for those with usable vision, and a
> darker tint which could reduce glare for travelers with only light
> perception. The iGlasses cost $129.95 and may be purchased from Independent
> Living Aids, phone 800-537-2118. Their website is
> www.independentliving.com<http://cp.mcafee.com/d/5fHCNEpdEICzBZxVNOXVKVJ6WtQ
> m6mhRPqdQT3hONtMQsLCQrFThopp78CQrITvvd7b5NNKto5JU__1kv9WgXjZ8qHL4qCjsv9WgXjZ
> 8qHL4qCjq3PHy2rb_nVyXaqbzfnKnhsd7afenpujovVqWdAkRrLcYG7DR8OJMddECQjt-hojuv78
> I9CzATsS02B13RLwxY9DOcOwhVv3q4zPWMf-0aSs-1FIsMUMr19fPh1897XiDQd40jfD7qlxaNEw
> 6WA97OCmd40x900Pr8UT-5VM9v_>.
> 
> -- 
> 
> 
> With Best Regards,
> 
> God Bless,
> 
> Alan
> 
> Plantation, Florida
> 
> 
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