Wireless technology to help blind
Wireless technology to help blind
New technology is being developed to help blind people find their way around obstacles, follow directions easily and inform them about train and bus times through the use of cell phone, wireless Internet, global positioning and voice technology.
The research project, "Noppa", is being conducted in Finland by the government and uses a third-generation cellular phone with a GPS device to inform users how to get to places.
The user will be able to ask the device a question, without having to key in information, and it will respond by telling that person where they are, how to get to where they want to go and which obstacles are to be avoided.
Bob Bennet, the library and IT manager for Christian Blind Mission International welcomed the idea behind this technology, but was sceptical about the price.
"Of course, we welcome the use of this technology for the blind community. It can obviously help them in every day life. However, as with many of these inventions, it will probably be too expensive for the average blind person, so I doubt it will catch on.
"It will need to be subsidised by the government and made widely accessible. Even so, sometimes visually impaired people are reluctant to try new things if they are already happy with what they have got."
This technology even tells the user which bus or train they need to catch and how to find that stop. It is hooked up to municipal databases so that it can warn visually impaired people road and sidewalk construction sites and delays.
In addition, it can differentiate between buses when four or five arrive at the same time, so that the person can identify the right one, and it will also let them know about weather reports, so they do not have to get caught up in any hazards.
Other members of blind associations have praised the system because it prevents people with sight difficulties from having to use buttons, which can be very uncomfortable in terrible weather.
The service will be tested by blind people at Christmas, and can be expected to be rolled out worldwide if it reaches the needs of poor sighted people.
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