SBIR Phase I: Electronic Orientation and Navigation System for People with Visual Impairments

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段的研究项目将为视觉障碍人士设计、建造和测试一种新型的定位和导航（O&amp；N）系统。这项研究将开发一种新型的射频识别（RFID）系统，其中智能的、可变范围的有源RFID标签被编程为有关其位置的信息，并放置在诸如学校、购物中心和博物馆等室内环境中。有视觉障碍的人可以通过佩戴在腰带上的小型RFID读取器获取这些信息。研究的一个重要部分将集中在用户界面的开发上，这将包括一个文本-语音合成器和一个创新的三键输入系统。这项研究将导致一个基于rfid的定位和导航系统的原型，该系统成本低，在室内和室外环境中都能使用，并且足够简单，适合儿童使用。它将标准时分多址（TDMA）防碰撞技术与创新的动态传输范围管理系统相结合。虽然基于gps的解决方案在室外环境中显示出前景，但目前还没有广泛设计用于室内环境的O&amp；N设备。这使得有视觉障碍的人很难在室内公共空间中导航。在美国有1040万视力受损的人，因为这个系统价格低廉且易于使用，它有可能被广泛使用。此外，由于界面的简单性，该系统将有助于定向和移动教育工作者与幼儿一起发展空间概念。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I research project will design, build and test a new type of Orientation and Navigation (O&N) system for people with visual impairments. This research will develop a new type of radio frequency identification (RFID) system, in which intelligent, variable-range active RFID tags are programmed with information about their locations and placed throughout indoor environments like schools, shopping malls and museums. This information will be accessible to people with visual impairments via a small RFID reader worn on the user's belt. An important part of the research will focus on user interface development, which will consist of a text-to-speech synthesizer and an innovative three-button input system. This research will lead to a prototype RFID-based orientation and navigation system that is low-cost, functional in both indoor and outdoor environments and simple enough for use by children. It will combine standard Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) anti-collision techniques with an innovative dynamic transmission range management system.While GPS-based solutions show promise in outdoor environments, there are currently no widespread O&N devices that are designed for use in indoor environments. This makes it difficult for people with visual impairments to navigate through indoor public spaces. There are 10.4 million people with visual impairments in the U.S. Because this system will be inexpensive and easy to use, it has the potential to become widespread. Also, because of the simplicity of the interface, the system will be useful to Orientation and Mobility educators working with young children to develop spatial concepts.