App Warns Visually-Impaired of Low-Hanging Objects

Jan-20-15 The Aerial Object Detection app warns the visually impaired of aerial obstacles such as tree branches by taking advantage of a smartphone's 3D camera.

The app works via a smartphone that is worn around the neck with the camera facing out. The user can select two navigation modes—indoors or outdoors. The indoor setting (telemeter mode) will warn the wearer as they approach an obstacle like a wall or cabinet, while the outdoor setting (obstacle mode) uses the phone's 3D camera to scan the area and determine the absolute distance between the walker and potential obstacles. Motion sensors detect the person's direction and speed, which allows the system to send them a timely warning.

The system is the first to use a smartphone's 3D camera capabilities, which are key to the technology. However, since 3D cameras are not yet common, the team is working on a similar app that can function with monocular, or single camera, vision by using real-world reference objects.

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[POPSCI.COM]
[IEEEXPLORE.IEEE.ORG]

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