[access-uk] Bionic glasses 'could replace guide dogs' - Telegraph
- From: Gordon Keen <gordonkeen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 8 Jul 2011 14:22:35 +0100
Well apart from the hyperbole in the subject this may be an interesting
development...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8620508/Bionic-glasses-could-replace-guide-dogs.html
Bionic glasses 'could replace guide dogs' - Telegraph
The hi-tech glasses contain the technology found in smartphones and games
consoles such as video cameras, position detectors, face recognition and
tracking software which enable the wearer to make out objects in front of them.
The glasses are being developed to help with common types of visual impairment
like age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
Dr Stephen Hicks, of the Department of Clinical Neurology at the university,
said: "The types of poor vision we are talking about are where you might be
able to see your own hand moving in front of you but you can’t define the
fingers.
"We want to be able to enhance vision in those who’ve lost it or who have
little left or almost none.
"The glasses should allow people to be more independent – finding their own
directions and signposts, and spotting warning signals."
The glasses work through the use of video cameras on the sides which capture
what the wearer is looking at while a LED light display embedded in the lenses
feed back extra information about objects, people or any obstacles that are in
view.
There is also a smartphone-type computer that runs in the wearer's pocket which
recognises the objects in the video image and tracks down where a person or
object is which, in turn, drives the lights in the display in real-time.
It is believed this extra information given about the surroundings will allow
people to navigate around a room and locate objects that are close-by.
Dr Stephen Hicks said: "The glasses must look discrete, allow eye contact
between people and present a simplified image to people with poor vision, to
help them maintain independence in life."
He added that the different light colours allow for different types of
information to be fed back to the wearer. For example, the different colours
allow wearers to distinguish between people and important objects. The
adjusting brightness can also help to indicate how close an object is.
It's estimated the glasses, although still only in the early stages of
development, can be sold for around £500 whereas training for a guide dog costs
between £25,000-£30,000.
The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition have simulations of the technology
used in the glasses on display until Sunday 10 July. Visitors will be able to
see how the tracking and depth perception works. They will also be given the
chance to try to navigate with this information.
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