Down With Dogs and Canes? A Real Life Guide to the New Electronic Mobility Gizmos for Visually Impaired People
By Ball, Liz; BBC News,Publication Date: December 2004
Article provides an overview of electronic obstacle detection, and describes applications that utilize the technology. Sound Foresight’s Ultracane is discussed, which combines a sonar obstacle detector with a long cane. One sonar sensor detects obstacles in front of the user, while a second detects obstacles at the height of the user’s head. Each sensor operates a separate button on the cane handle, which vibrates when an obstacle is detected. Two modes are available – one that detects obstacles within 3 meters, and another that reduces this range to 1.5 meters. The Miniguide from GDP Research is discussed, which beeps to warn the user of a nearby obstacle. The Tactile Miniguide is also available, which vibrates to warn the user of obstacles. The faster the device vibrates, the closer the object is to the user. The Miniguide is usually hand-held, but it can be attached to devices such as canes, wheelchairs, or hats. The Laser Cane from Nurion Industries combines a laser obstacle detector with a long cane. The device can detect obstacles ahead, at head height, and to the sides. The Laser Cane can also detect stairs and other drop-offs. The ‘K’ Sonar Cane from Bay Advanced Technologies combines a long cane with a small sweeping sonar device attached to the handle. Audio input is provided through earphones that allow the user to hear noises that are close by, and listen to a description of obstacles the device detects. Optics, or visible light, can be used to provide “sound pictures” similar to those created by the ‘K’ Sonar Cane, only without the disadvantage of interference. Such systems utilize a camera to gather visual information and convert it to a sound picture. One example is vOICE Seeing With Sound Software, which creates a sound picture that provides information about multiple objects.
Assistive Products Discussed: VOICE LEARNING EDITION FOR WINDOWS
LASERCANE (MODEL N-2000)
ULTRACANE
'K' SONAR (MODEL 1-07000-00)
MINIGUIDE
MINIGUIDE US (MODELS 1-07006-00 & 1-07007-00)
Published by: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (Website:http://www.bbc.co.uk)
Link to text: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/closeup/gizmo.shtml
