Kinect to assist the visually impaired in indoor navigation
Kinect, the fun filled gaming and entertaining device used in Xbox 360 has been redesigned to enable blind people navigate on their own with great ease. This new technology of Kinect is called Navigational Aids for the Visually Impaired ( NAVI) and has been designed by graduate duo Michael Zöllner and Stephan Huber from University of Konstanz.
The Kinect device is mounted over the helmet worn by the user, the helmet is further connected to a backpack-mounted Dell laptop which is hung by the user on his back. The Kinect gets the information from the software that judges the depth information and creates a virtual map of the surroundings. The computer then sends this information of the virtual map to Arduino board, which in turn sends back the signals to one of the three waist belts on LilyPad Arduinos. The three motors are operated by the Lilypads and vibrate to help the user sense that there is an obstacle ahead. The voice is an added feature of this device which prompts the individual of doors and common things in the nearby surrounding.
Indeed, this one is a master creation of the Kinect sensor to make life better for all visually impaired people.
Via: HackADay
