[blindza] Re: Fw: Yissum presents a virtual cane for the visually impaired
- From: "Jacob Kruger" <jacobk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 16:40:27 +0200
I did have it there, but didn't do much with it.
It basically clips onto the handle of the cane itsself - or you can hold it in
your hand without the cane - while holding your guide dog harness with other
hand, and it basically returns an audio tone based on the distance/density of
whatever's in front of it - up to 2 meters away in short range mode, or up to
around 4-5 meters in longer range mode, and that means you could do things like
scan for a lamp post across the road, etc., and me and Carl de Campos used it
for aiming before trying out knife throwing last year, since we could use it to
find the right part of a tree to throw the knife at - and we both managed to
peg the actual throwing knives at least once.
Main thing with it is that it lets you scan around a bit without actually
touching objects with your cane's point, and when I first tested one, I noticed
that although things like a wooden door, brick wall and glass window were the
same distance away, their densities rendered different audio tones, so you
could scan for things like that as well.
The website for the KSonar is the following one:
http://www.batforblind.co.nz/
I took it with to the Egoli BlindSA AGM around a month ago, and let guys play
around with it and a couple of other gadgets as well after meeting/lunch.
Stay well
Jacob Kruger
Blind Biker
Skype: BlindZA
'...fate had broken his body, but not his spirit...'
----- Original Message -----
From: Magda Felgate
To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 9:59 PM
Subject: [blindza] Re: Fw: Yissum presents a virtual cane for the visually
impaired
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
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