Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Stria: A product to Solve Veering (self.Blind)
submitted by slifer227
Hi /r/Blind,
I'm reaching out again on behalf of the product Stria.
Stria is a device that functions as a belt with vibration motors to notify a user if they are ever moving in the wrong direction.
One of the key problems we are trying to solve is when a blind person is trying to cross the street for example. If they move in the wrong direction into oncoming traffic it could be extremely dangerous and possibly fatal.
With the help of ultrasonic sensors to triangulate the users direction, we can prevent people from veering in the wrong direction.
Please let me know if any of you have feedback, would be willing to take a survey regarding the product, etc.
Thanks,
/u/slifer227 on behalf of Team Stria
I'm reaching out again on behalf of the product Stria.
Stria is a device that functions as a belt with vibration motors to notify a user if they are ever moving in the wrong direction.
One of the key problems we are trying to solve is when a blind person is trying to cross the street for example. If they move in the wrong direction into oncoming traffic it could be extremely dangerous and possibly fatal.
With the help of ultrasonic sensors to triangulate the users direction, we can prevent people from veering in the wrong direction.
Please let me know if any of you have feedback, would be willing to take a survey regarding the product, etc.
Thanks,
/u/slifer227 on behalf of Team Stria
-shacklebolt- 5 points 4y ago
This product sounds totally unnecessary. No thanks.
Laser_Lens_4 3 points 4y ago
This sounds impractical and superfluous at best. A product like this would have numerous issues. Using three ultrasonic sensors means you would be relying on the sound bouncing off something.
Let's say you are crossing in a clockwise direction in a country that drives on the right side of the road. To your right is the intersection where there is nothing for sound to bounce off of. To the left there may or may not be cars or the sound to bounce off of for half of the crossing. Ahead of you there is typically nothing for the sound to bounce off of. Any ultrasonic equipment at a reasonable price range likely won't have anywhere near enough range to bounce off of anything. Further, this will be immediately thrown off by any pedestrians crossing along with you.
For the most part we simply rely on hearing. Orientation and mobility training can teach people how to navigate a crossing by sound alone as long as there are cars. Typically we may only deviate by a meter or so in either direction; it's not ideal but far from actually dangerous.
Honestly this product sounds like it would simply be a crime against fashion. We've got enough funky gadgets weighing us down.
Now if you were to really make this work it seems much more practical to use an accelerometer and gyroscope along with a hall effect sensor. Most smartphones have these and they can maintain a straight path far better than any ultrasound sensor could. This could be done on an app. No extra hardware required.
Frankly though you're better off spending your time and resources pushing for municipalities to install and activate audio signals at traffic lights. Pings and chirps (or even those fancy talking ones) are a million times better than some gadget.
Let's say you are crossing in a clockwise direction in a country that drives on the right side of the road. To your right is the intersection where there is nothing for sound to bounce off of. To the left there may or may not be cars or the sound to bounce off of for half of the crossing. Ahead of you there is typically nothing for the sound to bounce off of. Any ultrasonic equipment at a reasonable price range likely won't have anywhere near enough range to bounce off of anything. Further, this will be immediately thrown off by any pedestrians crossing along with you.
For the most part we simply rely on hearing. Orientation and mobility training can teach people how to navigate a crossing by sound alone as long as there are cars. Typically we may only deviate by a meter or so in either direction; it's not ideal but far from actually dangerous.
Honestly this product sounds like it would simply be a crime against fashion. We've got enough funky gadgets weighing us down.
Now if you were to really make this work it seems much more practical to use an accelerometer and gyroscope along with a hall effect sensor. Most smartphones have these and they can maintain a straight path far better than any ultrasound sensor could. This could be done on an app. No extra hardware required.
Frankly though you're better off spending your time and resources pushing for municipalities to install and activate audio signals at traffic lights. Pings and chirps (or even those fancy talking ones) are a million times better than some gadget.
Amonwilde 3 points 4y ago
What does the wrong direction mean? Is it using GPS? Can it tell if the light has changed? Seems a little vague.
slifer227 [OP] 2 points 4y ago
So basically people with sight have reference points that allow you to move in a straight line. So when crossing the street, blind people won't have these reference points and may deviate from this straight line and walk in the wrong direction into oncoming traffic.
It uses three ultrasonic sensors to triangulate your location so that if you shift say over 30 degrees then you get a buzz that you're moving too much in that direction. Of course this should be flushed out more but I'm just trying to gauge interest at the moment.
It uses three ultrasonic sensors to triangulate your location so that if you shift say over 30 degrees then you get a buzz that you're moving too much in that direction. Of course this should be flushed out more but I'm just trying to gauge interest at the moment.
DjTonyBash 1 points 4y ago
Or they could just like listen to the cars
KillerLag 1 points 4y ago
How would the ultrasonic sensor triangulate your location with all the other obstacles in the way? (People, poles, etc).
When someone is totally blind and crossing the street, they are usually trained to listen to the traffic and walk parallel with the traffic. If they drift closer to the traffic, they should hear the sound of the traffic increase.
Not saying this product isn't useful, but it would depend on a lot of factors. Have you talked to any O&M instructors regarding how it works? They can show you how they train someone to cross the street.
Many cities are also now installed APS (Audible Pedestrian Signals), which makes a noise when the lights change. They are often paired with the device on the other side, so clients can hear the sound on the other side (dependent on traffic noises, volume, etc).
When someone is totally blind and crossing the street, they are usually trained to listen to the traffic and walk parallel with the traffic. If they drift closer to the traffic, they should hear the sound of the traffic increase.
Not saying this product isn't useful, but it would depend on a lot of factors. Have you talked to any O&M instructors regarding how it works? They can show you how they train someone to cross the street.
Many cities are also now installed APS (Audible Pedestrian Signals), which makes a noise when the lights change. They are often paired with the device on the other side, so clients can hear the sound on the other side (dependent on traffic noises, volume, etc).
Dofolo 2 points 4y ago
I think your product solves a problem that is not there in the first place. In general, blind people can walk perfectly fine in a straight line already ... imagine the chaos you'd have at a show like csun. Plus if needed, there's a great tool already, the good ol cane (and/or guide dog) with markers on the street, sound indicators etc...
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And how would the belt determine that the direction someone is going is right, or wrong?
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There may be other markets for a vibrating belt tho ...
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And how would the belt determine that the direction someone is going is right, or wrong?
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There may be other markets for a vibrating belt tho ...
Prefect316 1 points 4y ago
Hey OP, as a totally blind pedestrian who also has some moderate veering issues, I appreciate you taking a shot at making a solution. However, I can't help but agree with many of the comments here that a motorized belt isn't the way to cohere. I agree with the idea of using a smartphone instead.
Still, I'm happy to fill out your survey when you get it going. feel free to PM me.
Still, I'm happy to fill out your survey when you get it going. feel free to PM me.
snow671 1 points 4y ago
What are the statistics on fatal incidents where a blind person walked into oncoming traffic?
slifer227 [OP] 1 points 4y ago
So getting the data for that niche statistic is hard (where a blind person walks into oncoming traffic while crossing a street). However at this $1
There is data showing how: 5 people died from 2002 to 2006, and 40 people were injured in this time span. I understand that it is a somewhat niche issue but as we have seen interest for a solution to this problem, we decided to try to create a cheap, simple solution that can actually have an impact.
There is data showing how: 5 people died from 2002 to 2006, and 40 people were injured in this time span. I understand that it is a somewhat niche issue but as we have seen interest for a solution to this problem, we decided to try to create a cheap, simple solution that can actually have an impact.
snow671 2 points 4y ago
I get it, but I think an app like Blindsquare would be way more user friendly
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