A navigation and object location device for the blind

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Date
2009-05Author
Caperna, Steve
Cheng, Christopher
Cho, Junghee
Fan, Victoria
Luthra, Avishkar
O'Leary, Brendan
Sheng, Jansen
Sun, Andrew
Stearns, Lee
Tessler, Roni
Wong, Paul
Yeh, Jimmy
Advisor
Chellappa, Rama
Tang, Cha-Min
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Team Vision's goal is to create a navigation system for the blind. To achieve
this, we took a multi-pronged approach. First, through surveys, we assessed the
needs of the blind community and developed a system around those needs. Then,
using recent technology, we combined a global positioning system (GPS), inertial
navigation unit (INU), computer vision algorithms, and audio and haptic
interfaces into one system. The GPS and INU work together to provide walking
directions from building to building when outdoors and the computer vision algorithms
identify and locate objects such as signs and landmarks, both indoors and
outdoors. The speech-based interface ties the GPS, INU, and computer vision
algorithms together into an interactive audio-based navigation device. Finally,
the haptic interface provides an alternative intuitive directional guidance system.
The resulting system guides users to speci ed buildings and to important objects
such as cellular telephones, wallets, or even restroom or exit signs.
Notes
Gemstone Team Vision