Thank you Debbie for sharing this information with us all. Addison O. Addison Gethers e-mail address : [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED] window live messenger: [EMAIL PROTECTED] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS
----- Original Message ----- From: "Debbie Palmer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "[EMAIL PROTECTED] com" <[email protected]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, November 07, 2008 7:29 AM Subject: {dbilg} Accessible Devices Press Release: New Cross Walk Safety > > Hi all, taken from another list but hopefully will be introduced in the > UK. > > "Subject: Accessible Devices Press Release: New Cross Walk Safety > System For > > The Visually Impaired > > This is the first we've heard of this and we have no further information. > > Developing the Corner of Blind Avenue and Safety Way > > MOSCOW, Idaho - For the 21.2 million Americans who suffer from vision > loss, > > crossing the street can be a stressful and potentially dangerous > > proposition. Thanks to engineers at the University of Idaho, many visually > > impaired individuals soon may have a greatly reduced risk thanks to a tool > > already in their pockets - their cell phone. > > The statistics for vision loss, provided by the American Foundation for > the > > Blind, include anyone reporting difficulty seeing, even while wearing > > glasses or contact lenses. No matter the level of visual impairment, many > > conditions - including visual noise, walking at night and irregular > > intersections - can result in missing a crosswalk. > > Regardless of conditions, the new system being developed in Moscow, Idaho, > > will make intersections safer and easier to navigate. > > "Minute for minute on the road, any pedestrian is 150 percent more likely > to > > be injured by a car than somebody driving one," said Richard Wall, > professor > > of electrical and computer engineering. "But it is pretty apparent that > the > > blind pedestrians are the ones most at risk at intersections." > > The new technology utilizes features already available in many cellular > > phones, including communications, Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) > > functions and magnetic compasses to help visually impaired pedestrians. > > Specialized software allows these pedestrians to activate the crossing > > signal remotely without having to locate the physical button. > > Then, the GPS system monitors the position and direction of travel while > > crossing. As long as the crosser stays within the crosswalk, nothing > > happens. But stray outside the lines, and an audible warning activates > > alerting the pedestrian of their danger. It then provides directions on > how > > to get back within the safety zone. Should the walker somehow end up in > the > > middle of the intersection, the system automatically would turn every > light > > red, stopping traffic and averting a potential disaster. > > "It's true that this would disrupt the timing of the signal patterns when > it > > gets activated," said Wall. "But we would much rather disrupt them for a > few > > seconds than for a half hour while an ambulance assists a traffic victim." > > To ensure people don't trigger the alarm just for fun, only those who need > > the help would be able to acquire the necessary software. > > The system requires more than software, however. It also requires the > > installation of new hardware in thousands of lights across the country. > > Luckily, Wall and his team have found a solution that not only is cost > > effective, it simplifies the existing system. > > Many crosswalks currently have handicapped-assisted signals that provide > > help such as audio tones indicating when it is safe to cross. However, the > > box that controls the intersection contains a massive amount of wiring. > This > > is necessary to connect each actuator with each signal so at any given > time, > > the control box knows each state. > > Wall's new system simplifies each box to only two wires, both already > > required to power the signals. It uses a technology called Ethernet over > > power line, which allows information to be broadcast over power lines. > > The future is clear for Wall and his research team. They have established > > dates to deliver the engineering and expect field trials to commence in > > June. They are building prototypes supported by funds from the University > > Transportation Centers program, Idaho's Higher Education Research Council > > and their commercial partner, Campbell Company, who currently makes the > > accessible pedestrian signals that chirp and talk for the handicapped. > > "The signals we're building are more than prototypes. These devices > actually > > can go into the field and work today," said Wall. "We're using existing > > infrastructure and communicating intelligence over it. It's cost > effective, > > it simplifies the connection to two wires and it can be immediately > > installed in all the existing crosswalks in the country."" > > > you can contact me on: > email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > skype debs1965 > msn: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > aim screen name wadham house > Vonage phone No: 01392 346351 > Mobile: 07930 332608 > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus > signature > database 3594 (20081107) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
