Feel-Beyond-Fingers device for the Blind

描述(申请人提供)：这个研发项目将为盲人提供一种微型的、不显眼的设备来感知他们手中的东西-既可以作为短距离传感器来寻找日常生活中附近的小物体，也可以作为长距离传感器来增强移动性。该设备对新近失明或完全失明的人最有用，特别是在陌生、危险或不卫生的环境中。基于创新的红外距离传感技术，这款手感超越手指的设备具有几个显著的优势，使其在盲人用户解决方案中独树一帜。L阶段项目始于分包商亚利桑那州盲人和视障人士中心的焦点小组活动。在详细的封装和电子设计后，制作了概念验证器件并进行了测试。视障参与者在ACBVI的模拟日常场景中使用该设备。参与者对这款设备表现出了高度的热情。在第二阶段，完成的SBIR项目将产生一种装置，其有效性已在日常生活中由用户在较长一段时间内进行评估。商业化将产生具有吸引力的价格产品，使人们能够更多地参与更广泛的社会、职业和教育活动。拟议中的感觉超越手指(FBF)设备提供了一项重要的功能，这是相当一部分盲人和视障人士感兴趣的，目前他们的人数约为300万人。对于完全失明的人来说，建议的设备将是最感兴趣的，因为他们缺乏对周围环境的大多数视觉线索。据估计，这在美国大约有20万人。与之前的数据一致，第一阶段用户评估发现，这些用户在定位大小物体、在社交场合走动以及避免无意中接触环境中的物体方面面临着重大问题。生产设备的低成本还将使该技术比成本更高的物体检测和测距技术更广泛地适用于更广泛的人。

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.