Verizon Creates Navigational Tools to Promote Independence for Blind Users
As Brian Charlson says in the video on the Verizon website, being blind means relying on so many other people for your everyday things. Like matching your clothing, figuring out your money, identifying the cans in your pantry and navigating around. Those of us who are sighted take that kind of independence for granted, but imagine needing other people to fill in the minutia of your day.
So this new technology seems revolutionary, especially for the otherwise self-sufficient blind person. Verizon has partnered with Visus Technology to create a way for people with vision issues to get real-time feedback about people, objects and surroundings. It’s a mobile application suite called Velasense that uses the Verizon 4G LTE network as well as the advanced cameras and sensors on smartphones.
This technology would ultimately be able to tell the user the name of the person they’re approaching and the expression on their face, obstacles in their path, the color of something they’re holding, etc. It can read barcodes and currency. And all this information would be stored in the Verizon Cloud for easy access at any time.
The idea is to make it small and portable and inconspicuous so as not to make the user stand out, any more than they already might with their cane or guide dog.
According to the website, this has recently been tested at the Carroll Center for the Blind, and “even the simple act of connecting students to social media offered a new level of social interactions.”
The website has a couple of promotional videos that demonstrate the use in everyday life. It’s pretty cool stuff and worth keeping an eye on.
For full information and to see the videos, go here.
Related Posts
Orientation and Mobility
Southeastern Guide Dogs
Southeastern Guide Dogs places skilled companion dogs with children with vision loss and guide dogs with teens as young as fifteen.
Assistive Technology, Visual Impairment
Feelif is making photos and the environment more accessible for kids who are blind!
Feelif just released two applications that will help blind and visually impaired users have a better understanding of their surroundings and of photos.
Assistive Technology, iPad Apps and Accessibility
Feelif: The Accessible Tactile Tablet for Kids who are Visually Impaired
Feelif is a tactile tablet that is able to combine native features of the Samsung tablet, like vibrations and the built-in screenreader, with a tactile surface to create a whole...