Health

See the New Sonar ‘Glove’ That Can Help the Blind Navigate

Sonar — the same sensing through sound waves used by bats — can now help the blind see — sort of — and at a low cost.

A self-contained glove with sonar technology measures the distance of how close or far away objects are and lets the wearer know using pressure. If an object is close by, the pressure from the glove will be stronger than objects that are father away.

See how it works:

What’s even more nifty about this glove is that it is a Creative Commons license, meaning that anyone who is tech savvy could probably make this device. According to Popular Science, the device, known as Tacit (though more technically “Hand-Mounted Haptic Feedback Sonar Obstacle Avoidance Asstance Device”), is a neoprene cuff  that includes an Arduino Mini Pro 5v, ultrasonic sensors, hobby servomotors and a 9-volt battery. Tactic is mounted on the back of the hand and can sense objects from about 1 inch to 10 feet:

The parts retail for about $65, [inventor Steve] Hoefer says — “I don’t see the point of an accessibility device that has an inaccessible price tag.”

Details for making the device can be found here.

Wrist Mounted Sonar Device Helps the Blind

On GathrioLabs.com, Hoefer says that everyone who has used this device has figured it out almost instantly. Compared to the trademark white walking cane or a seeing eye dog, both of which have a learning curve and training time, this more instantaneous adaptation could be useful for those who are newly blind. He goes on to say that he will be experimenting with lasers, which would be more accurate, but that for now sonar is the most cost-effective.

Using this glove is probably a much easier option than teaching oneself to see using his own innate sonar, like this incredible kid. As this 2007 video shows, he lost his eyes to cancer at 3-years-old, but rode bikes, played basketball, and essentially convinced those around him that he wasn’t actually blind by his actions. At 17, he died of cancer. Check out his story:

[H/T Engadget]

Comments (10)

  • Capn Spank
    Posted on August 24, 2011 at 5:55am

    I’ve been legally blind myself my entire life. Believe me, the “open source” idea is a welcome relief for anyone who needs one of these. Since most adaptive aids have been treated as medical equipment over the years, you’d be amazed what the “helpful” doctors and medical providers will charge you for the simplest of tech. The ability to bilk Medicare/insurance drives the marketplace to exhorbitant levels. The note about the boy really hit home though. I’ve always found ways to get out and function like others in society. I’ve faced very real discrimination in my life, and I’ve found that the fewer people who know of my condition, the better….and because of this, I’ve often been accused of “Faking” my condition when people find out. The preconception that blind=helpless just doesn’t allow some to deal with a blind man being anything other than helpless. I hope this device allows more of us to get out and about, and perhaps expand other’s understanding of our levels of functionality.

    Report Post »  
  • GatorPwn
    Posted on August 23, 2011 at 11:07am

    Congrats to my fellow Arduino users. Great things can happen with a cheap and open-source hardware platform.

    Report Post » GatorPwn  
  • Qoheleth
    Posted on August 23, 2011 at 10:09am

    I’m probably not the only one who remembers when technology that we use as throw-aways today was very expensive. The demand for this sort of thing is less than that of, say, GPS units, but the same principles apply. Eventually it’ll be available at a much more reasonable price.
    On the issue of patents. The original intent of patents was to protect inventors from someone else simply copying their work (because it’s always easier to duplicate something than to create it), but so much of patent work lately has been to thwart others from developing with their own ideas. (See the Apple/Samsung fight for an example.) We need some pretty serious reform here in the States, but elsewhere (eg: Germany) it’s far worse.

    Report Post » Qoheleth  
  • GabeTheGreat
    Posted on August 23, 2011 at 7:23am

    Patents are the biggest hinderance to progress for inventors. They prevent the reproduction and adaptation of technology to all the people who could use and improve it. This is how technology moves forward, by individuals improving an existing product or using it to create an entirely new one. But thanks to patents, regular people cannot replicate or use a lot of the technology available. I like the fact they made it open source and didnt patent it. this will probably be improved greatly in a short time and then patented by some govt beaurocrat so they can be the only ones producing them and shoot the price up.

    Report Post » GabeTheGreat  
    • theninthplanet
      Posted on August 23, 2011 at 8:20am

      Patents are the biggest incentive to inventors. Imagine you spend years of your life and all your savings coming up with a new device. If there was no such thing as patents or intellectual property, anyone could copy off you, leaving you broke without a course of action.

      As far as patents “preventing” regular people from using technology, that is absolutely absurd. It is the patent holder’s job to enforce their patents through the legal system, and unless you’re mass producing their product, they could care less about what you do at home in your free time.

      Also, this device might contain some intellectual property, but it is now considered “prior art” – meaning no one can patent the intellectual property contained in this device because it is public knowledge. So no, a bureaucrat in Washington can’t patent this device (they couldn’t anyway, because they didn’t invent it).

      Report Post » theninthplanet  
  • Cold War Vet
    Posted on August 23, 2011 at 4:01am

    Glad to see there are still free enterprise supporters left out there!

    Report Post » Cold War Vet  
  • Cold War Vet
    Posted on August 23, 2011 at 1:31am

    I like the open source part. That means that anyone is free to experiment and improve the design. Let free enterprise competition provide better designs and lower costs. And it would help if we could make sure the FDA and anyone else in our ultra-corrupt federal government keeps their filthy paws off of it.

    http://www.neuezeitgeist.wordpress.com

    Report Post » Cold War Vet  
    • Al J Zira
      Posted on August 23, 2011 at 1:40am

      If the feds get a hold of this it will have but one purpose and that’s to make the wearer walk around with their hand out.

      Report Post » Al J Zira  
    • M 4 Colt
      Posted on August 23, 2011 at 3:44am

      Cold war if the glove works you can be sure the government will have to dick with it.

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on August 23, 2011 at 7:25am

      That‘s the best statement I’ve heard yet…..keep their hands out. The government would patten it, give it away to those on government aid and sell it for outrageous price to those who could afford it. And own all the rights to it.

      Report Post »  

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