Navigation device for blind soon

The white and red cane used by the blind could soon become a thing of the past if a blind navigation device that students of the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) at Matunga are working on is successful. The portable device works on a system that combines and obstacle detection system using stereo vision. The device in the testing stage is expected to be ready for launch during the technological festival of the institute Technovanza in December. According to Uday Agarwal, media co-ordinator for Technovanza throwing light on the project said that it was started by former students last year as part of their project work. “This year the concept has taken a physical shape and is now in the testing phase. The results are heartening but there is a lot of work that needs to be done on it for making it a commercially viable proposition,” said Agarwal. While explaining the working of the device he said, “In simple language, the device consists of cameras mounted on spectacles that will send feeds of the terrain to the handheld computing device. The device will convert the video files into stereo signals that will be sent to vibrators attached to the body of the blind person. The vibrations will warn the wearer of the device of obstacles in front of them thus allowing him to navigate (walk) without meeting with a mishap.” He added that the device will be tested during a social initiative drive ‘Umeed’ of the institute at some of the schools for blind children. “The idea is to give them hope and look forward to a device that will enable them to live as normal humans beings to a large extent without having to sport the white and red cane,” he said. When asked about the cost of the device, he said the cost had not been accounted for so far as it was still be tested. He however added that when the device was ready for commercial use it would use economical gadgets so that it would be affordable for the vision impaired and blind people.