Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Track running for blind or visually impaired people (self.Blind)
submitted by Jelleps
Good morning/ evening/ afternoon,
For university i am working on a project that would help visually impaired runners run on a track without the help of a so called buddy (a non visually impaired runner who guides you).
We however never stopped to think if this is actually a necessary improvement or if having to run with a buddy would negatively impact performance.
Our alternative is a small chest mounted camera that uses image recognition to see if a runner is still on track and two haptic feedback wristbands to indicate which direction the runner should correct to.
I would really interested in your opinions on this matter if it wouldn’t be too much of a hassle
For university i am working on a project that would help visually impaired runners run on a track without the help of a so called buddy (a non visually impaired runner who guides you).
We however never stopped to think if this is actually a necessary improvement or if having to run with a buddy would negatively impact performance.
Our alternative is a small chest mounted camera that uses image recognition to see if a runner is still on track and two haptic feedback wristbands to indicate which direction the runner should correct to.
I would really interested in your opinions on this matter if it wouldn’t be too much of a hassle
Sereniitty 7 points 3y ago
My girlfriend is blind and very active. Well she is the 2nd best women blind fencer in the world!! Haha that been said. She really love to do things herself. Like not depending on someone to do stuff is very important for her. So I don't know about been able to perform more but not to depend constantly on someone to do that activity is a huge freedom to have when you're blind. At least from her point of "view"
Jelleps [OP] 2 points 3y ago
Hi, i was wondering if you Would you be okay with it if i cited this message for my report on the project, i will promise to not use your nickname or other info that might be able to track the message back to you. I didn’t intend to use these answers for anything else than personal interest but the insights people gave me are actually very informative :)
Sereniitty 1 points 3y ago
Absolutely ! Take anything you need ! Those people need more freedom and if anything you do can help that, you MUST take everything you can to do so. So YES ! If you need more info on how she see the improvement that would give her to work with such an invention, let me know.
As for , she brought up two point.
1# it's not as much as staying on track that been able to avoid incoming people's. Been able to avoid them would be a huge deal!
2# when she run with someone. Her and that person as to hold a rope so that she knows where to follow. Holding a rope while running impair one of you arm to move freely Wich cause a very awkward position to run . Having a device that could keep her on track and avoid people's would let both her arms free Wich will give her a better balance position to work with!
Anyway , I hope you can achieve something awesome! Keep up the good work and if you need anything, hit me up. I would love to give you as much info as you need.
✌️🙂
As for , she brought up two point.
1# it's not as much as staying on track that been able to avoid incoming people's. Been able to avoid them would be a huge deal!
2# when she run with someone. Her and that person as to hold a rope so that she knows where to follow. Holding a rope while running impair one of you arm to move freely Wich cause a very awkward position to run . Having a device that could keep her on track and avoid people's would let both her arms free Wich will give her a better balance position to work with!
Anyway , I hope you can achieve something awesome! Keep up the good work and if you need anything, hit me up. I would love to give you as much info as you need.
✌️🙂
Jelleps [OP] 2 points 3y ago
Awesome
AmAsabat 7 points 3y ago
I’m not sure for an experienced runner who has always had a buddy it would improve things. Competitively when I run a race I want to do well in I have up to 4 runners with me who each do a leg which means that they are fresh if I’m not. I dictate the pace they just keep up and guide me. I’ve won a lot of races this way in anything up to marathon distances.
When I do a marathon i always have at least 3 runners with me and am able to do elite times when none of them could.
When I do a marathon i always have at least 3 runners with me and am able to do elite times when none of them could.
Jelleps [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Oh wow that sounds really great, could you however imagine that it would happen that a visually impaired runner would have struggles with finding someone who is fast enough to guide them without holding them up in something like a 400 meter dash?
AmAsabat 1 points 3y ago
One thing you could look at is the way visually impaired people target shoot. This is done with tones and sounds. It seems strange to some that we are allowed guns but I’m pretty much a marksman and I can’t see a thing. As long as its a special type of target I can shoot it.
AmAsabat 1 points 3y ago
Anything less than 1000 metres is a one buddy race. And to be honest I can do that just having headphones on and being talked through from the sidelines. Racing is as much tactics as direction. I need to know who is around me where I am in the field and to get a feel for what is happening to my opponents gait, are they showing signs of tiredness, have they run out to quickly or do I need to push them more. None of that information is available from a direction app.
Are you a competing runner, if you aren’t please spend some time listening to how they race and the tactics they use.
Are you a competing runner, if you aren’t please spend some time listening to how they race and the tactics they use.
Jelleps [OP] 1 points 3y ago
I’m not a competing runner so I’ll definitely look more into it, thanks for the great info
AmAsabat 1 points 3y ago
You should find a blind runners club and spend time with them. Volunteer as a buddy then once you know what they and we face think about your idea.
freakette7 3 points 3y ago
Achilles international is a group that help those with disabilities participate in running events. I have several blind friends that use them for running marathons. They have volunteers run with you.
Jelleps [OP] 1 points 3y ago
That sounds like a great initiative, are any of your friends ever in a situation where there is no-one available to run with them?
ravenshadow2013 2 points 3y ago
I used to be the "Buddy" with a teammate we ran the 1600 m race I am not sure how you could make a device that would make a blind runner feel totally safe and in control. A good tandem team can clear a mile race and as little a 5 minutes, that is not to say that if the runner practiced with the device they would still be able to become very good and get their times down
Jelleps [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Yes this is kind of out aim, we don’t expect the runners to immediately get used to the device, and we want to focus it on track running to make the environment a little more controlled than a marathon for example
Type_ya_name_here 1 points 3y ago
You’re initiative which is noble and commendable seems to be similar to the idea of gadgeting the white cane. Which broadly speaking doesn’t need tech’inf out.
When I did track running (i mainly just cycle and do bodybuilding stuff now) I would either run with a guide / pilot or increasingly figure out how many strides it takes to do the 1600m (or less) runs. Once a good rhythm was found it became an easy’ish task. The real challenge was doing 5km, 10km, half and full marathons. They often tho just required.
If you wanted to, you could manipulate the area of the ground where the runner turns a corner. When they feel and hear an alternative texture they’ll be promoted the curve.
Don’t forget there are blind pole vaulters who kick ass.
When I did track running (i mainly just cycle and do bodybuilding stuff now) I would either run with a guide / pilot or increasingly figure out how many strides it takes to do the 1600m (or less) runs. Once a good rhythm was found it became an easy’ish task. The real challenge was doing 5km, 10km, half and full marathons. They often tho just required.
If you wanted to, you could manipulate the area of the ground where the runner turns a corner. When they feel and hear an alternative texture they’ll be promoted the curve.
Don’t forget there are blind pole vaulters who kick ass.
JoelDodson 1 points 3y ago
I like the idea.
​
I run on a track at a local middle school with a friend guiding me. Two points:
​
one. it's an oval track but is dirt/gravel, no lines.
two. there are often other people on the track walking and running. I don't really mind running into people not paying attention, but they might mind. I have issues, I'll save it for another post. there are also often smaller kids on bikes and I really don't want to knock them over.
​
I would love to be able to go out and run by myself again.
​
I run on a track at a local middle school with a friend guiding me. Two points:
​
one. it's an oval track but is dirt/gravel, no lines.
two. there are often other people on the track walking and running. I don't really mind running into people not paying attention, but they might mind. I have issues, I'll save it for another post. there are also often smaller kids on bikes and I really don't want to knock them over.
​
I would love to be able to go out and run by myself again.
blind_cowboy 1 points 3y ago
When I was a kid/teenager I had more light perception then I do now and could see the brighter lines on the track. My biggest problem was people leaving hurtles or other things on it.
I have lost most of my light perception and doubt I could do that now just ask my wife who saw me ride a bike off the side of a bridge and into a creak a few years ago.
Anyway yes I think this is an excellent idea.
I have lost most of my light perception and doubt I could do that now just ask my wife who saw me ride a bike off the side of a bridge and into a creak a few years ago.
Anyway yes I think this is an excellent idea.
DrillInstructorJan 1 points 3y ago
Hell yes I'd take it. Right now I can't run at all because I'm not supposed to meet my guide.
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