Building directly to your left 10 meters is titled "Store-X", you are in the parking lot of Store-X, the door is 3 meters ahead, 1 meter to the right, you are inside Store-X, canned food isle is directly on the right, next right isle frozen food, frozen food isle directly to the left, "shopping" (said by the user) shopping has begun, "Brand-X frozen pizza" (user says), Brand-X frozen pizza is located 1 meter ahead to the right, brand-x frozen pizza is directly in front of you, brand-x frozen pizza is in your hands, "checkout" (stated by user), checkout has begun, the chechout counter is located to the right, 10 meters, you are standing at the checkout, "that will be $4.50" (spoken by checker), $20, $10, (read by device as the user scans two different bills in front of the device, (user hands checker the $10 bill), "here is your change" (spoken by the checker), "$5 and fifty cents" (again spoken by the checker), $5 and 50 cents (spoken and confirmed by the device, as the user scans the change in front of the device)

Now bare in mind that the output could be edited, for complexity and type. Instead of actual speed, it could be fast or slow. Instead of all actual directions as layed out above it could say, "heading north, crosswalk ahead, crosswalk stop here." etc. Also, audio input from the user is not required, instead of saying shop, a shop button could be depressed.

This is the earpiece version.

This is the device as a pair of hearing aids

Now how did the device do all that? Simple. Intelligent extraeplation of input into usable data. What are some of the systems that would need to be in place to make this device fully functional? Tags, tags and more tage! One of the reasons that I decided to release this now, is that with the advent of "radio tags" (electronic UPC), much more functionality could be added to the device.

Most of the navigation is entirely frequency emmision related, that is to say , it's mostly just a radar like system with audio cues. Bearings are given with an electronic compass, or GPS could also be used but is not neccessary. Identification of common objects such as buildings, and sidewalks is done by comparing map data beign recieved with identifying pre-programmed map data. Small cars, cars, trucks, vans, semi trucks, people, and other common objects are easily identified.

Special radio tags would need to be implemented to fully accentuate the device. These would not be used for a UPC but to identify certain places or things. For instance, have you ever walked into one of those rest areas on the side of the freeway, and seen a no smoking sign with a small patch of braile at the bottom of it? What the hell sense does that make? The blind person is supposed to feel along the entire surface of the wall until they find a sign, search the sign for the braile, and then find out it only wants them to extinguish thier cigarette? Utterly perposturous!

The crosswalk would be indicated by radio tags implanted into the paint on the crosswalk. Street signs would be identified by one of these special radio tags with specific information on it, such as "high.st". Addresses could be identified by using similar tags, and all government buildings would be identified immidiatly, in compliance with disabilities acts. Store names would be identified by these tags, as well as the bill types of currency and even people. This could be avoided if to much big brother concern exists, and skirted by using a simple number and shape identification and recognition system. Coins could be easily identified by thier size, even without the use of the device.

As you can see, lucky you, this device would alter the world for the blind. Get it done! Produce this thing, or something like it, and do it quickly, or go around with your eyes closed until you do and attempt to understand the plight that you are allowing many people to live with on a daily basis.

Feel free to contact me anytime:

E-mail me at:
one@loneinventor.com
Phone: 208-253-6457

Mail: P.O. Box 94

Ontario, Oregon 97914

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Published on: 2004-02-03 (1712 reads)