Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Are there any common surroundings scanner or navigational devices? (self.Blind)
submitted by pangolinest
Hi everyone, a few days ago i came to a realization that i can quite easily slap together a simple makeshift sonar beam rangefinder with vibration feedback using arduino microcontroller board and some common sensors and parts for it. I dont really know yet how convinient or effective it might be to scan surroundings with it, but in theory it could semi-reliably tell you the distance to the nearest object in 15 degrees beam to the maximum range of 3 to 4 meters.
I googled for similar ideas of scanner devices for blind people and found a lot of prototypes and announcements but almost nothing about finished products. I dont yet understand the reasons for that but i really want to figure it out. Can you please tell me more about visually impared community in that context, a possible need for such navigational devices and probably existing devices that you use or heard of?
I googled for similar ideas of scanner devices for blind people and found a lot of prototypes and announcements but almost nothing about finished products. I dont yet understand the reasons for that but i really want to figure it out. Can you please tell me more about visually impared community in that context, a possible need for such navigational devices and probably existing devices that you use or heard of?
CloudyBeep 3 points 2y ago
Have you heard about the BuzzClip, Sunu Band, WeWalk and Miniguide?
Laser_Lens_4 2 points 2y ago
Came here to mention sunu. I used it for about 3 months, and then it went in a drawer. Ugly and not reliable enough for me.
pangolinest [OP] 2 points 2y ago
No, i havent, but thats exactly i was looking for, thank you a lot! Apparently, i reinvented for myself the Miniguide.
As i see it, those devices are horrenduosly overpriced comparing to their hardware-software production value. I guess thats because a hefty part of it goes to solve medical certification issues. I was thinking more of non-profit crowdfounding approach to produce these with lowest possible accessible cost. So my question is, is the price a setback at all or there is just little point or need for that sort of aiding devices?
As i see it, those devices are horrenduosly overpriced comparing to their hardware-software production value. I guess thats because a hefty part of it goes to solve medical certification issues. I was thinking more of non-profit crowdfounding approach to produce these with lowest possible accessible cost. So my question is, is the price a setback at all or there is just little point or need for that sort of aiding devices?
KillerLag 1 points 2y ago
The price is high because of low demand. There are also certain reliability issues with them currently.
pangolinest [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Do you mean blind people dont find such devices useful and so there is little demand even among target audience or a typical effect of absurdly high costs for uncommon medical devices in general?
Reliability could be improved with multiple parralel systems like both sonar and lidar. I guess companies dont do it because prices would skyrocket beyond any logic.
Reliability could be improved with multiple parralel systems like both sonar and lidar. I guess companies dont do it because prices would skyrocket beyond any logic.
KillerLag 1 points 2y ago
The device can be useful, but the not as useful as the cost involved. For example, a client of mine has a Buzzclip, which is suppose to detect objects up to 2-3 meters away. On more than one occasion, the Buzzclip would start to vibrate when it was 5-6 inches away from the item.... well after his cane detect the object. And these weren't regular objects the Buzzclip would normally miss (like a chain link fence). We were testing this against brick walls and sides of vehicles.
How many people would pay $250 for an item, when a $50 cane would do a better job, AND detect drop-offs?
And yes, adding more systems to detect things would improve reliability, but the cost would be even higher, and you'd need more processing power.
Here is a good historic example.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/humanware-ipaq-pda-maestro-mainstream-handheld-pc-with-trekker-gps-for-blind/283675213085?hash=item420c5c3d1d:g:7yAAAOSw-zha0BQU
One of the older GPS systems for the blind required a PDA, an antenna that you have to wear on your shoulder, as well as speakers. It was very expensive and a pain in the ass to use
https://canasstech.com/products/trekker-breeze-gently-used
It was eventually replaced by a newer handheld device, which was easier to use and cheaper. However, still not many people used it because of the cost versus what it did.
Nowadays, most clients use an iphone, which has a GPS system built in. Some of the GPS software that is accessible is about $50, but some are free. A significantly larger number of people use those now.
Considering the newer iphones have depth sensors (with lidar, I believe), I wouldn't be surprised if someone tries to make an app that can use the existing sensors to reduce the cost (and put it into an item people will already have).
How many people would pay $250 for an item, when a $50 cane would do a better job, AND detect drop-offs?
And yes, adding more systems to detect things would improve reliability, but the cost would be even higher, and you'd need more processing power.
Here is a good historic example.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/humanware-ipaq-pda-maestro-mainstream-handheld-pc-with-trekker-gps-for-blind/283675213085?hash=item420c5c3d1d:g:7yAAAOSw-zha0BQU
One of the older GPS systems for the blind required a PDA, an antenna that you have to wear on your shoulder, as well as speakers. It was very expensive and a pain in the ass to use
https://canasstech.com/products/trekker-breeze-gently-used
It was eventually replaced by a newer handheld device, which was easier to use and cheaper. However, still not many people used it because of the cost versus what it did.
Nowadays, most clients use an iphone, which has a GPS system built in. Some of the GPS software that is accessible is about $50, but some are free. A significantly larger number of people use those now.
Considering the newer iphones have depth sensors (with lidar, I believe), I wouldn't be surprised if someone tries to make an app that can use the existing sensors to reduce the cost (and put it into an item people will already have).
CloudyBeep 1 points 2y ago
The price is that high because of so little demand.
siriuslylupin6 1 points 2y ago
Not worth it have good o&m skills and you’ll be fine. I think they’d be very extra and unnecessary. I am very physical and quite sensory
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