Drishti, an interactive personal navigation system, developed at the University of Florida, could someday guide the blind through corridors and along busy city sidewalks. The heart of the system is wearable computer about the size of a thick paper-back book, witch is worn on the user’s waist, runs Windows 98 and is voice-controlled with an interface that uses IBM’S Via Voice software. the computer is connected to a Global Positioning System [GPS] receiver carried on the user’s back, witch keeps track of the latitude and longitude. As the user navigates the route given by the computer, the system compares data from the GPS receiver with data from the GIS [geographical information system] to define the route and warn if the user is off the course or even away from the centre of the sidewalk. When the user gives the voice commands to ask for directions, the system responds with verbal instruction giving distances in feet and providing corrective guidance along the way. Refreshable Electronic Braille Sheet Researchers at the University of Tokyo have fabricated a flexible, shock-resistant, lightweight Braille Sheet Display on an extremely fine plastic film. The effective display size is 4X4 centimeters. Each character consists of a 3X2 array of Braille dots, and the total number of dots is 144. thus, 24 characters [four lines of six] can be displayed at a time. The total thickness of the device is 1 millimeter, and the weight is 5.3 grams. The researchers predict the sheet will make it possible to produce pocket-sized Braille electronic book. thanks, mukesh jain.
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