HEY, I'D LIKE TO CHECK YOUR CANE, OUT. WHY DID YOU NOT BRING IT WITH TO GUIDE DOGS. HOW DOES IT WORK AND HOW DO YOU FIND IT? LOL ... MAGDA AND LIARA. XX TO THAT BIG BLACK LAB OF YOURS! ----- Original Message ----- From: Jacob Kruger To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 2:50 PM Subject: [blindza] Re: Fw: Yissum presents a virtual cane for the visually impaired Well, let's see if it ever makes it into production, with the relevant price, etc. But, yes, otherwise, it does sound nice enough - similar to, but sort of an upgrade from the KSonar unit, which I do already have one of. Stay well Jacob Kruger Blind Biker Skype: BlindZA '...fate had broken his body, but not his spirit...' ----- Original Message ----- From: Boshoff, Deon (GP Health) To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 2:45 PM Subject: [blindza] Re: Fw: Yissum presents a virtual cane for the visually impaired Although I would trip myself if I would try walking with a cane, this is the kind of toy I would really be able to use effectively, and at this price? Send me two of those, will you? Deon [G. Boshoff, BA[Stell]UDC[Potch] WESKOPPIES HOSPITAL SWITCHBOARD Tel: 0123199735 Mobile: 0829699571 Fax: 0123277076 Bleeper: 0123199820, code 0002 E-mail: Deon.boshoff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Deon.boshoff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> -----Original Message----- From: blindza-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:blindza-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Jacob Kruger Sent: 22 June 2011 02:34 PM To: NAPSA Blind Cc: BlindZA Subject: [blindza] Fw: Yissum presents a virtual cane for the visually impaired ----- Original Message ----- Hi Alex and all, The appended article from today's Jerusalem post answers some of the questions raised here, while of course also raising new ones. Best wishes, Peter Meijer Seeing with Sound - The vOICe http://www.seeingwithsound.com/winvoice.htm Hebrew U device uses sonar to help the blind navigate. By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH, 06/22/2011. The "virtual cane" incorporates several sensors that estimate the distance between the user and the object it is pointed at. The blind and visually impaired could be able to toss away their white canes or at least “see” better with them, thanks to a “virtual cane” developed by Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers and patented by Yissum, the university’s research and development company. The device was unveiled at a HU press conference at the Jerusalem International Convention Center on Tuesday, just before the Israeli Presidential Conference opened there. Dr. Amir Amedi of HU’s Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada and of the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences and colleagues unveiled the inexpensive device, which emits a focused beam at objects around the user and transmits the visual information to him via a gentle vibration similar to the quivering of a cellphone. The technology transfer company in Jerusalem is now looking for strategic partners for further development. Amedi estimated that the lightweight device, which reporters quickly learned to use to get through a dark maze blindfolded, would eventually cost about $100. The highly intuitive electronic device, the size of a cellphone, incorporates several sensors that estimate the distance between the user and the object it is pointed at. This enables the blind person to assess the height and distance of various objects, reconstruct an accurate image of the surroundings and navigate safely. The “virtual cane” is easy to carry and accurate and can function for up to 12 hours between charges. Amedi said the blind user functions like a dolphin or bat, with sonar-type signals reacting to surroundings. Unlike a white stick that can give the blind input from only a meter away, the device can function at a much shorter distance and up to some 10 meters in all directions. The young researcher said the device can also distinguish between smiling and sad faces and can be used for research on how the brain flexibly changes upon receiving input and on brain reorganization in the blind. There is a potential market of some 200 million visually impaired people around the world; 40 million of them are legally blind; all of them have difficulties in orientation and navigation, even with an ordinary stick. One of the main challenges facing blind people is the ability to assess the height of various obstacles as well as to identify far away objects in their surroundings. So far, until the journalists tried it, about a dozen people successfully navigated the maze, and after a very short practice period managed to completely avoid walls and obstacles without bumping their heads. Yissum CEO Yaacov Michlin said that the promising invention “can endow visually impaired people with the freedom to freely navigate in their surroundings without unintentionally bumping into or touching other people, and thus has the potential to significantly enhance their quality of life.” HU, for the second year a partner of Beit Hanassi in organizing the Israeli Presidential Conference, filled a hall near the entrance with displays and demonstrations of developments of its researchers. Carmi Gillon, the university’s vice president for external relations, said that 40 percent of all academic research in the country is done at HU; Yissum has made the university the 15th in the world in R&D. Source URL: http://www.jpost.com/Sci-Tech/Article.aspx?id=226026 ---------- To send a message to the list, send any message to blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ---------- To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to blindza-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line --- The 'homepage' for this list is at http://www.blindza.co.za Disclaimer: This message may contain confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this e-mail by mistake and delete this e-mail from your system. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secured or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. 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