They would be much better investing in self-driving car projects such as the
Google car. A project that is closer to home for them as it were. This is
something I would call life changing if/when it becomes a reality. I’m somewhat
fed up with these projects that involve a camera + face recognition + OCR which
keep popping up every couple of months as it seems, and without any thing
coming out of them.
Amro
From: Gordon Keen
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 10:57 AM
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Toyota develops wearable device for blind people - BBC News
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35753978
Toyota develops wearable device for blind people
Toyota Toyota demonstrated how the device could work in a video posted
online
Toyota is developing a wearable device to help give blind and visually
impaired people greater mobility, the manufacturer has said.
The gadget is worn on the shoulders and uses cameras to recognise
surroundings, such as signs, then directs the wearer with speakers and
vibration motors.
Details were released this week, though no release date has been set.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) called it an exciting
development.
The device has been produced by developers working on Project Blaid. They
said they were working on plans to introduce mapping, object identification and
facial recognition technologies as well.
It comes after Microsoft said it had designed a headset that uses location
and navigation data with a network of information beacons in urban locations to
talk visually impaired people around cities.
Robin Spinks, senior strategy manager at the RNIB, told the BBC: "This is a
very exciting development within the rapidly growing field of wearable
assistive technology. Mobility is at the heart of so much in our society and a
device like Blaid could open up limitless possibilities for millions of blind
and partially sighted people."
'Mobility'
In an announcement made this week, Toyota said the device was not meant to
replace those aids currently available to blind and visually impaired people,
but to "help fill the gaps left by canes, dogs and basic GPS devices by
providing users with more information about their surroundings".
In a video posted online, it showed how the device could be used to
distinguish between one door marked gentlemen's toilet and another marked exit.
Toyota said it was primarily intended to help users navigate indoors.
WATCH: Rory Cellan-Jones puts Microsoft's headset to the test
"Project Blaid is one example of how Toyota is leading the way to the future
of mobility, when getting around will be about more than just cars," said
Toyota executive Simon Nagata. "We want to extend the freedom of mobility for
all, no matter their circumstance, location or ability."
The firm said that, as part of the project - which is not linked to the
manufacture of cars for which it is better known - it was asking employees to
submit videos of common indoor landmarks that developers could use to teach the
device to recognise them.