Electronic Devices for Assisting Visually Impaired Individuals

PI: Maxim Schwartz

CECD is committed to developing technologies for those with visual impairments. To this end, members of the Innovation Lab are investigating the potential of wearable electronic devices. After some preliminary market research and guidance from members of the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, the team at the Innovation Lab has identified a set of capabilities that could be offered through such devices. One prototype system is currently in development in order to assess the effectiveness and usability of the selected capabilities.

As in the robotics for physical therapy project, CECD is getting some assistance from undergraduate students in this endeavor. The students make contributions to the project through the second of two special topics courses CECD is offering during the 2013 fall semester. This second team of students is conducting market research and developing an initial design for a small wearable device that will assist people with visual impairment in everyday tasks. The initial prototype already has the capability to detect approaching hazards at head level using an ultrasonic sensor. The same prototype also has a feature that assists a blind individual with moving forward while standing in line.

CECD intends to offer similar courses every semester so that each new team of students can pick up the mantle from the previous team, and get the prototypes closer to commercialization.