The project will prove the feasibility of providing safer and more effective travel for blind individuals who live in rural communities. To that end we will: 1. Determine the technologies can be used to provide geo-location information for a blind user navigating in a rural environment. While there are some "talking GPS" devices available, the mapping information provided is not adequate. Existing GPS devices know the location of streets and major structures but the mapping information usually does not include the areas and structures on a farm or ranch - i.e., house, barn, storage shed, silo, holding pen, etc.). RoboFind will allow mapping all of the structures of interest on a farm, ranch or rural community and then effectively communicate that information to the blind user. The user can then navigate safely. 2. Determine how other technologies can be used to provide the blind with information about the local environment. In particular we are interested in locating fences, livestock, large pieces of farm equipment, gates, doors in buildings, etc. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and other forms of Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) are technologies that have potential for use in providing this additional information. RoboFind will detect these location and identification tags and communicate this information to the user. 3. Make the necessary changes/additions in our existing Roboglasses product so that this product can be used to best effect in rural environments. Roboglasses uses haptic feedback to communicate the distance and location of objects detected using ultrasonic sensors. Fusing this information with GPS and RFID information will provide the blind user with a coherent view of the local environment. In addition, we will add audio feedback to Roboglasses so that some location and obstacles information can be communicated by voice to the user (e.g., south barn door is 20 feet ahead and to the right". Today, 46% of blind and visually impaired people experience head injury at least once month, sight impaired individuals are 1.5 times more likely to be obese, 81% of blind adults are unemployed and 4 million blind individuals in the U.S. over 25 years old do not have a high school diploma or GED. The Roboglasses and RoboFind devices will provide safe and more efficient travel for blind individuals of which 4.5 million live in rural communities in the United States. These individuals will be able to navigate outside the confines of their immediate environment to work, attend school, and enjoy more recreation and wellness activities.
