Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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What technology would help improve your daily life? (self.Blind)
submitted by Derfrosty
I am a student and I work for a department at my university that is dedicated to enhancing the lives of students through technology.
We have the option to pitch ideas for our own projects, that if approved will be implemented at the university.
I believe that the resources available to students with disabilities, especially the visually impaired could be drastically improved.
I have a couple ideas I'd like to share with you all and get your input.
My first idea was to have poles at certain places around the university that would act as a directory for particularly new students to help find their way around campus. You would approach it and it would tell you where you are and give you directions to the near by buildings. I'm not entirely sure if it would actually be helpful at all.
My second idea was to instal different texture patterns on the sidewalks to help indicate various locations or obstacles. Like if you are approaching a cross walk or nearing any other place were extra caution is required. An issue with this is I don't know how well people would be able to feel it under there feet.
The last idea I have is install something like haptic vibration machines in certain places, like coming up to a sidewalk. This one hasn't been thought out as much.
If you have any input I'd greatly appreciate it. If you know of some technology that has worked well for you that you believe will help other please let me know.
We have computer labs for students but we don't have anything for visually impaired students to use, so if you know of good hardware to use please let me know.
Anything you can think of or add would be greatly appreciated.
If everything comes together I will keep all of you updated on the progress of the project or projects.
Cheers
We have the option to pitch ideas for our own projects, that if approved will be implemented at the university.
I believe that the resources available to students with disabilities, especially the visually impaired could be drastically improved.
I have a couple ideas I'd like to share with you all and get your input.
My first idea was to have poles at certain places around the university that would act as a directory for particularly new students to help find their way around campus. You would approach it and it would tell you where you are and give you directions to the near by buildings. I'm not entirely sure if it would actually be helpful at all.
My second idea was to instal different texture patterns on the sidewalks to help indicate various locations or obstacles. Like if you are approaching a cross walk or nearing any other place were extra caution is required. An issue with this is I don't know how well people would be able to feel it under there feet.
The last idea I have is install something like haptic vibration machines in certain places, like coming up to a sidewalk. This one hasn't been thought out as much.
If you have any input I'd greatly appreciate it. If you know of some technology that has worked well for you that you believe will help other please let me know.
We have computer labs for students but we don't have anything for visually impaired students to use, so if you know of good hardware to use please let me know.
Anything you can think of or add would be greatly appreciated.
If everything comes together I will keep all of you updated on the progress of the project or projects.
Cheers
WindupBot 2 points 6y ago
> My first idea was to have poles at certain places around the university that would act as a directory for particularly new students to help find their way around campus. You would approach it and it would tell you where you are and give you directions to the near by buildings. I'm not entirely sure if it would actually be helpful at
You could do something like this with $1 and a custom mobile app with info about what's around campus. There are many places this would be helpful (airports! please!), and while most people will learn their way around a university campus pretty quickly, it would help folks who are new to campus or who just somehow get turned around.
> My second idea was to instal different texture patterns on the sidewalks to help indicate various locations or obstacles. Like if you are approaching a cross walk or nearing any other place were extra caution is required. An issue with this is I don't know how well people would be able to feel it under there feet.
Many other countries do this a lot more extensively than we tend to in the United Sates, but to an extent in the US, it's $1 so your campus should already have some tactile pavement in areas where warning people with visual impairments is particularly important. If they don't, then this is certainly something they need to work on in order to be compliant with the ADA.
> The last idea I have is install something like haptic vibration machines in certain places, like coming up to a sidewalk. This one hasn't been thought out as much.
I don't think this is as practical/useful, particularly in crowded areas. An alternative may be to use the iBeacons mentioned above and have the app vibrate the user's mobile device, so it's available if people want it and individual to them.
My biggest problem as someone who's visually impaired with low visual acuity, no depth perception, and a very limited visual field is walking into things like low-hanging street signs that stick out over a sidewalk, low hanging branches, etc. Canes are great for finding obstacles low to the ground, but obstacles at head height can be problematic.
I also see (or, you know... don't see, because blind) a lot of steps along sidewalks, particularly on our college campus, that could really use some contrasting/textured strip along the front edge of the step. This would make both cane travel and seeing them with low vision much easier.
You could do something like this with $1 and a custom mobile app with info about what's around campus. There are many places this would be helpful (airports! please!), and while most people will learn their way around a university campus pretty quickly, it would help folks who are new to campus or who just somehow get turned around.
> My second idea was to instal different texture patterns on the sidewalks to help indicate various locations or obstacles. Like if you are approaching a cross walk or nearing any other place were extra caution is required. An issue with this is I don't know how well people would be able to feel it under there feet.
Many other countries do this a lot more extensively than we tend to in the United Sates, but to an extent in the US, it's $1 so your campus should already have some tactile pavement in areas where warning people with visual impairments is particularly important. If they don't, then this is certainly something they need to work on in order to be compliant with the ADA.
> The last idea I have is install something like haptic vibration machines in certain places, like coming up to a sidewalk. This one hasn't been thought out as much.
I don't think this is as practical/useful, particularly in crowded areas. An alternative may be to use the iBeacons mentioned above and have the app vibrate the user's mobile device, so it's available if people want it and individual to them.
My biggest problem as someone who's visually impaired with low visual acuity, no depth perception, and a very limited visual field is walking into things like low-hanging street signs that stick out over a sidewalk, low hanging branches, etc. Canes are great for finding obstacles low to the ground, but obstacles at head height can be problematic.
I also see (or, you know... don't see, because blind) a lot of steps along sidewalks, particularly on our college campus, that could really use some contrasting/textured strip along the front edge of the step. This would make both cane travel and seeing them with low vision much easier.
k00l_m00se 1 points 6y ago
I would love a Braille smartphone. Typing would be so much quicker and more convenient
Unuhi 1 points 6y ago
iPhone and iOS has braille screen input option if you enable voiceover.
k00l_m00se 1 points 6y ago
Yeah but Braille screens are expensive and not exactly phone sized
Unuhi 1 points 6y ago
Braille screen input = just your iphone or ipad and your fingers, you'll calibrate your fingers to either the cell with fingers on side equally or perkins style configuration.
So you can type in braille. So you can type after you configure your fingers on your screen but no reading or hearing other than headphones. Unless you also have an external display.
I'd love a small, affordable pocket size display. Because withBSI and headphones and watch i still can't handle loud environments.
So you can type in braille. So you can type after you configure your fingers on your screen but no reading or hearing other than headphones. Unless you also have an external display.
I'd love a small, affordable pocket size display. Because withBSI and headphones and watch i still can't handle loud environments.
k00l_m00se 1 points 6y ago
Woah that's awesome! How do I enable this?
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