Title :
A secondary aid that helps to create cognitive maps for visual impaired persons
Author :
Reyes-Ayala, N. ; Félix-Gonzalez, N. ; Pérez-Ponce, H.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electron., Univ. Autonoma Metropolitana-Azcapotzalco, Mexico City, Mexico
Abstract :
Mautly Pathfinder is a system designed to obtain images of the surrounding world presented to a blind person by any video camera and to manage those images to obtain only the significant information for the user such as the shape, size, position and relative movements of possible hazards. This information is transmitted to the user by a vibrating matrix located on the abdominal region of the body. Furthermore, pulses in which frequency varies depending on distance between such hazards and the user are sent to a vibrating interface located on the chest of the impaired person. The purpose is to give enough information to the user to create a cognitive map of the local environment. The system is designed to be wearable and to work at real time, which means that the data processing and the results delivering of such information are done almost instantly.
Keywords :
biocontrol; biomedical ultrasonics; computerised instrumentation; handicapped aids; image sampling; sensory aids; video cameras; video signal processing; Mautly Pathfinder; cognitive maps; horizontal synchronization signal; image processing; local environment; microcontroller; programmable logical device; secondary aid; surrounding world images; ultrasonic subsystem; vibrating matrix; video camera; video resolution; video subsystem; visual impaired persons; wearable system; Abdomen; Cameras; Data processing; Dogs; Frequency; Hazards; Psychology; Real time systems; Shape; Ultrasonic variables measurement;
Conference_Titel :
Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 2001. Proceedings of the 23rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-7211-5
DOI :
10.1109/IEMBS.2001.1020486