Feel-Beyond-Fingers device for the Blind

描述（由申请人提供）：这个研发项目将提供一个微型的、不显眼的设备，让盲人感知他们眼前的东西——既可以作为一个短程传感器，在日常生活中发现附近的小物体，也可以作为一个远程传感设备，增强他们的行动能力。该设备对新失明或完全失明的人非常有用，特别是在不熟悉、危险或不卫生的环境中。基于一种创新的红外距离传感技术，提出的“超越手指的感觉”设备具有几个显著的优势，使其在盲人用户的解决方案中独树一帜。第一阶段项目开始于分包商亚利桑那州盲人和视障中心（ACBVI）的焦点小组活动。经过详细的封装和电子设计，制作并测试了一个概念验证装置。视障参与者在ACBVI的模拟日常场景中使用该设备。参与者对该设备表现出高度的热情。在第二阶段，完成的SBIR项目将产生一种设备，其有效性已由用户在日常生活中进行了较长时间的评估。商业化将生产价格诱人的产品，使人们能够更多地参与更广泛的社会、职业和教育活动。这种被提议的超越手指感知（FBF）装置提供了一项重要的功能，它引起了很大一部分盲人和视力受损人群的兴趣，目前大约有300万盲人和视力受损人群。对于完全失明的人来说，这个提议的设备将是最感兴趣的，因为他们缺乏对周围环境的视觉线索。与之前的数据一致，第一阶段的用户评估发现，这些用户在定位大小物体、在社交场合中四处走动、避免无意中与环境中的物体接触等方面面临着重大问题。与成本较高的目标探测和测距技术相比，生产设备的低成本也将使更广泛的人群能够使用该技术。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This R&D project will provide a miniature, inconspicuous device for blind individuals to sense what is in front of their hand - both as a short-range sensor for finding small, nearby objects in daily living, as well as a longer-range sensing device for mobility enhancement. The device will be most useful for newly or completely blind individuals, especially in unfamiliar, hazardous, or unsanitary environments. Based on an innovative infrared distance-sensing technology, the proposed Feel-Beyond-Fingers device has several significant advantages that make it unique among solutions for blind users. The Phase l project began with a Focus Group activity at subcontractor Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ACBVI). A proof of concept device was fabricated and tested after detailed packaging and electronics design. Visually impaired participants used the device in simulated everyday scenarios at ACBVI. The participants showed a high level of enthusiasm for the device. In Phase II, the completed SBIR project will result in a device whose effectiveness has been evaluated by users in everyday life, over an extended period of time. Commercialization will produce an attractively priced product that will enable enhanced participation in a wider range of social, vocational, and educational activities. The proposed Feel Beyond Fingers (FBF) device provides an important function that is of interest to a significant portion of the blind and visually impaired population, which currently numbers about 3 million individuals. The proposed device would be of greatest interest to the totally blind, who lack most visual cues about the immediate environment. This is estimated to be about 200,000 people in the U.S. In agreement with previous data, the Phase I user evaluations found that these users face significant issues in locating small and large objects, getting around in social situations, and avoiding inadvertent contact with objects in the environment. The low cost of the production device will also make the technology accessible to a much wider range of people than higher-cost object detection and range-finding technologies.