For years cars have had warning systems to let drivers know when they're about to back into something. What if a similar type of obstacle avoidance technology could be used to help the visually impaired?
That's what two University of Pennsylvania researchers are trying to develop. They've created a prototype warning system for walkers called Kinecthesia. It's a belt loaded with the following: a Microsoft Kinect infrared camera and sensors, battery pack and six vibration motors placed in the left, right and middle of the belt.
When worn the Kinect detects obstacles in your path. If the obstacle is to your left, the motors on the left side of the belt will vibrate. As you get closer to the object the vibrations get stronger.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
The researchers want to make the belt as small and affordable as possible so that they can better serve the 285 million visually impaired people around the world. The technology might also be useful for firefighters, miners and anyone else working in low visibility areas in need of some good vibrations.
—Larry Greenemeier
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]
Subscribe to Support Independent Journalism
Great science journalism requires human expertise, time, effort and creativity. And it costs money. That’s why I and the journalists here at Scientific American hope you’ll join our community.
When you subscribe, you are supporting staff and freelance journalists who are passionate about telling science stories that are true, important and compelling. Our editors and reporters are often experts in their fields, which means they understand the nuances of big discoveries and can untangle the breakthroughs from the hype. With a subscription, you are also supporting rigorous fact-checking to ensure the words we publish are precise and accurate. And you’re supporting original illustrations, graphics and photos that bring you closer to an advanced laboratory, an ice sheet in Antarctica or a space mission in orbit. You’re helping us craft other types of high-quality journalism as well: Our newsletters are carefully written, edited and curated by staffers you have or will come to know and love. Our Science Quickly podcast is based on original reporting, collaboration with editors and scientists and exacting production.
Subscriptions keep this engine running so we can continue to deliver thoughtful, rigorous and independent science journalism to you. In an era of viral misinformation, this work is crucial. If you value what we do, I hope you’ll consider joining us as a subscriber
