The new app that serves as eyes for the blind

digitalhealth, News No Comments 2659 Views0

As computers get better at navigating the world around them, they are also helping humans better navigate that world as well. Thanks to advances in AI and robotics, scientists from IBM Research and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) are working on new types of real-world accessibility solutions for the visually impaired.

Fonte: Dominic Basulto, The Washington Post

 

The goal is as audacious as it is inspiring: coming up with a technological platform that can help the visually impaired navigate the world around them as effortlessly as everyone else. The first pilot in the program is a smartphone app for iOS and Android called NavCog, which helps blind people navigate their surroundings by whispering into their ears through earbuds or by creating subtle vibrations on their smartphones. (Users have the option of either setting the app to “voice mode” or “vibration mode.”)

Similar to the turn-by-turn directions offered by car GPS systems, the app offers its own version of turn-by-turn directions for the visually impaired. The app analyzes signals from Bluetooth beacons located along walkways and from smartphone sensors to help enable users to move without human assistance, whether inside campus buildings or outdoors.

The magic happens when algorithms are able to help the blind identify in near real-time where they are, which direction they are facing and additional surrounding environmental information. The computer vision navigation application tool turns smartphone images of the surrounding environment into a 3-D space model that can be used to issue turn-by-turn navigation guidance.

The NavCog project, which is a joint collaboration between IBM Research in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. and Carnegie Mellon, has particular meaning for one of the lead researchers on the project, IBM Fellow and visiting CMU faculty member Chieko Asakawa, who is visually impaired herself. It will soon be possible for her to walk across the CMU campus with the help of the NavCog app – and look just like any other person traversing the campus, listening to a smartphone with white earbuds in her ear.

 

That’s just the beginning, as Kris Kitani of the Robotics Institute of CMU told me. One major goal, of course, is to extend the coverage beyond just the buildings on the Carnegie Mellon campus that have been retrofitted with beacons. To encourage this, the scientists working on the project have made the entire NavCog platform open source by making it available to developers via the IBM BlueMix cloud. That makes it possible for other developers to develop other enhancements for the system and speed the rollout to other physical destinations. continua a leggere

Elliott, The Dallas fresh, Found the going tough until late in to fourth quarter. Well later, The NFL leading rusher with the non-stop churning legs buried Pittsburgh. His first landing, A 14 yard dash down the best sideline, This Cowboys up 29 24 Kwon Alexander jersey. Patriots coach Bill Belichick said all three players would be assessed, But chiefly referred to Mayo injury as little bittersweet. Brady is two 300 yard passing games shy of complementing Brett Favre total. It has also been Brady 16th career game with four or more touchdowns and no interceptions. Provide much more competitive than it was out there, Belichick thought. Give to them credit, They did a bit more than we did tonight. We got to do a more satisfactory job, But I not implementing anything away from them reggie nelson jersey. A sixth year NFC snug end, Granted anonymity in order to speak freely regarding the subject, Said that short arming passes or seeking safe haven out of bounds to reduce contact happens the time and someone says they lying. Vikings attacking lineman Jeremiah Sirles calls it smart football. The person in Year 8 or 9, And you running down the part time, But(Seattle Seahawks cover) Kam Chancellor racing at you, What those extra 2 yards investing in a just stepping out of bounds and avoiding a huge collision? Sirles stated.I explain to you this I a black man, As well as, You are sure that, Colin Kaepernick, He not schokohrrutige, Okay? Harrison understood. Cannot determine what I face and what other young black men and black people face or people of color face on an every single[day] Agreement rashad jennings jersey. Birth sister is white, And he was applied and raised by white parents.. I felt it would definitely be a public safety issue we would cancel it, But at this moment I think we be fine for tomorrow custom chiefs jersey. You about to attend the parade, Mayor Walsh said to leave early and have plenty of travel time. Law enforcement will be enforcing this rule devante parker jersey..