A Cell Phone-Based Street Intersection Analyzer for Visually Impaired Pedestrians

描述（由申请人提供）：一个基于手机的街道交叉口分析仪视障行人摘要项目摘要城市交叉口是盲人旅行中最危险的部分之一。它们变得越来越复杂，使得使用传统的盲定向和移动技术安全穿越变得更加困难。为了缓解这个问题，我们建议开发和评估一个基于手机的系统来分析街道交叉口的图像，由盲人或视力受损的人使用标准的手机，提供实时反馈。基于我们过去在使用计算机视觉算法来寻找人行横道和步行灯的原型“Crosswatch”系统上的工作，我们将大大增强系统的功能，包括有关交叉口布局及其连接街道的身份，停车标志，单行道标志和其他指示路权的控制的存在，以及从步行/不步行灯集成的计时信息，倒计时器和其他交通信号灯。该系统将传达交叉口信息，并将使用合成语音和音频音调的组合主动引导用户将自己与人行横道对齐。我们会进行人为因素研究，以优化系统的功能和用户界面的配置，并开发互动培训应用程序，使用户掌握更好地使用系统的技能。这些培训应用程序，作为额外的手机软件实施，以补充交叉口系统，将训练用户保持相机水平和前进，并尽量减少转向时，穿越人行横道。交叉点分析和培训软件将免费提供，可下载到流行的手机（如iPhone、Android或Symbian型号）上。手机将不需要任何硬件修改或附加组件来运行此软件。最终，用户将能够免费下载一整套这样的算法到他或她可能已经携带的手机上，而不必为每个功能携带单独的设备。 公共卫生相关性：视力正常的人每天都能安全、自信地沿着人行道行走和穿越人行横道，但大约有1000万患有严重视力障碍的美国人和100万法定盲人在这项任务中面临严重困难。拟议的研究将产生一个高度无障碍的系统（对用户来说成本为零或最低），以增强现有的寻路技术，这可以大大改善盲人和视障者的独立旅行。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A Cell Phone-Based Street Intersection Analyzer for Visually Impaired Pedestrians Abstract Project Summary Urban intersections are among the most dangerous parts of a blind person's travel. They are becoming increasingly complex, making safe crossing using conventional blind orientation and mobility techniques ever more difficult. To alleviate this problem, we propose to develop and evaluate a cell phone-based system to analyze images of street intersections, taken by a blind or visually impaired person using a standard cell phone, to provide real-time feedback. Building on our past work on a prototype "Crosswatch" system that uses computer vision algorithms to find crosswalks and Walk lights, we will greatly enhance the functionality of the system with information about the intersection layout and the identity of its connecting streets, the presence of stop signs, one-way signs and other controls indicating right-of-way, and timing information integrated from Walk/Don't Walk lights, countdown timers and other traffic lights. The system will convey intersection information, and will actively guide the user to align himself/herself with crosswalks, using a combination of synthesized speech and audio tones. We will conduct human factors studies to optimize the system functionality and the configuration of the user interface, as well as develop interactive training applications to equip users with the skills to better use the system. These training applications, implemented as additional cell phone software to complement the intersection system, will train users to hold the camera horizontal and forward and to minimize veer when traversing a crosswalk. The intersection analysis and training software will be made freely available for download onto popular cell phones (such as iPhone, Android or Symbian models). The cell phone will not need any hardware modifications or add-ons to run this software. Ultimately a user will be able to download an entire suite of such algorithms for free onto the cell phone he or she is already likely to be carrying, without having to carry a separate piece of equipment for each function. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The ability to walk safely and confidently along sidewalks and traverse crosswalks is taken for granted every day by the sighted, but approximately 10 million Americans with significant vision impairments and a million who are legally blind face severe difficulties in this task. The proposed research would result in a highly accessible system (with zero or minimal cost to users) to augment existing wayfinding techniques, which could dramatically improve independent travel for blind and visually impaired persons.