Also, how affordable will it be for the average blind person? Cait
> On May 24, 2021, at 11:32 AM, mich verrier <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi I have to ask when or even if this tech will ever get in the hands of > blind people? Or for that madder even if there are any blind people in this > prodo type development? So many of these ideas never seem to get off of the > ground and are just flashes in the pan and never herd of again. From Mich. > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of > Christopher Chaltain > Sent: May 24, 2021 11:07 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: Could a smart backpack replace guide dogs? Researchers think so. > - The Washington Post > > I also don't see the harm in researching and exploring different options. > Sure the technology is in it's early stages, and kinks need to be worked out, > but how is this different from any other technology, such as smart phones > using a touch screen? I can see where people wouldn't think this would be an > option for themselves, but that is why choice is important, and just because > someone doesn't use something doesn't make it ridiculous. Ditto for using a > cane or a guide dog. The bottom line is being independent, and if a cane > works for someone then they're personality shouldn't be called into question. > > -- > Christopher (AKA CJ) > Chaltain at Outlook > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Ed > Worrell > Sent: Monday, May 24, 2021 10:10 AM > To: 'Carol Pearson' via VIPhone <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: Could a smart backpack replace guide dogs? Researchers think so. > - The Washington Post > > I don’t see the harm in them/companies creating different options for travel. > The robot assistant still feels a ways off for me. I commend them for looking > outside the box. > > I personally think that a robot dog, or robot helping me walk down the road > is probably the future, but it still won’t replace the companionship of the > guide dog. The will never be able to replace that aspect no matter how hard > they try. > > Ed > > >> On May 24, 2021, at 5:12 AM, Johna Gravitt <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> I agree. Also, what about getting you around construction or stopping you >> at curbs or steps? >> Secondary navigation aids are a great idea and I for one would love to test >> some out but I’ll stick with my fury friend as well. >> I did try a robot guide in a study a while back and it was definitely >> interesting but I still feel safer with my dog or Cain. >> Johna >> >> >> From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of >> CJ & AA MAY >> Sent: Monday, May 24, 2021 2:53 AM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: RE: Could a smart backpack replace guide dogs? Researchers >> think so. - The Washington Post >> >> I think that such equipment could be useful as a secondary mobility aid, but >> really don’t see it replacing a cane or a dog. It isn’t enough to know that >> a person is approaching you, you need to know which way to go to avoid that >> person or obstacle. It would require tremendous concentration when >> navigating a busy shop or trying to find your way back to the exit. >> Think I’ll stick with my dog, but I can see that one day there will be >> useful secondary mobility aids. >> Alison >> >> From: [email protected]<[email protected]> On Behalf Of >> CrazyEyez >> Sent: 23 May 2021 22:50 >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: Could a smart backpack replace guide dogs? Researchers >> think so. - The Washington Post >> >> honestly this is stupid. >> Another money grab. >> You'll never ever replace the cane. >> >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> >> On May 23, 2021, at 4:54 PM, Priscilla Garces (prisci) >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Hi everyone, >> Thought this might be interesting to read. >> >> >> >> https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/03/25/innovations-ai-ba >> ckpack-blind/ >> >> Researchers design an AI-powered backpack for the visually impaired >> Artificial intelligence researchers hope the bag will one day replace >> canes and guide dogs >> >> Dalvin Brown >> March 25, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. EDT >> >> Researchers at the University of Georgia created an AI-powered >> backpack to help visually impaired people navigate the outside world. >> (Intel) Among the latest iterations of next-generation assistive accessories >> is a backpack powered by Intel’s artificial intelligence software. It’s >> designed to audibly alert wearers when they’re approaching possibly >> hazardous situations like crosswalks or strangers. >> The backpack, which has yet to be named, was revealed Wednesday but could >> face years of development before a consumer-ready version is launched. >> Still, the product offers a glimpse at what a future could look like as >> progress in AI and machine learning increasingly help people with vision >> issues better perceive their environments and, therefore, live more >> independently. >> The backpack was created by researchers at the University of Georgia, who >> took existing computer vision techniques and combined them into a system >> that seeks to replace the need for a cane or guide dog. >> Irony was really the driving force behind the idea, according to Jagadish K. >> Mahendran, the lead researcher at the University of Georgia who also >> specializes in computer vision for robots. >> What's next for wheelchairs? Maybe autonomy. >> “I met with my visually impaired friend, and she was describing problems to >> me that she faces daily. And I was struck: For the past few years, I’ve been >> teaching robots how to see things while there are people who cannot see >> things and need help,” Mahendran said. >> There’s nothing outwardly special about the backpack’s design: It looks like >> an ordinary gray knapsack with a small computer, such as a laptop, inside. A >> match-box-sized GPS unit is affixed to the outside. >> In a demonstration video, the user also wears a vest with tiny holes to >> conceal an embedded AI camera. When connected to the computer, the 4K camera >> captures depth and color information used to help people avoid things like >> hanging branches. The camera can also be embedded in a fanny pack or other >> waist-worn pouches. >> The spatial camera, built by the computer vision company Luxonis, can read >> signs, detect crosswalks and see coming changes in elevation. >> >> Bluetooth earphones allow the user to communicate with the system and vice >> versa. So the wearer can ask out loud for location information, and the >> system will tell them where they are. If the camera spots a threat like an >> incoming pedestrian, it can tell the wearer. >> It’s too soon to know how much such a device would cost consumers, but >> several start-ups and organizations are working to solve the same issues, >> and the tech doesn’t come cheap. >> WeWALK’s smart cane with obstacle detection sells for $600, 10 times as much >> as an ordinary white cane. OrCam MyEye Pro, a wireless smart camera that >> reads what’s in front of you, runs $4,250. >> Social media has upped its accessibility game. But deaf creators say it has >> a long way to go. >> Researchers at the University of Georgia went with a backpack design because >> it would help visually impaired people avoid unwanted attention. They used >> Intel’s Movidius computing chip because it was small and powerful enough to >> run advanced AI functions with low latency. >> The next step is to raise funds and expand testing. They hope to one day >> unleash an open-source, AI-based, visual-assistance system. The researchers >> have formed a team called Mira, made up of some visually impaired volunteers. >> “We want this solution to be inclusive and as transparent as possible,” >> Mahendran said. “Our main motto is to increase the involvement of visually >> impaired people in their daily activities and reduce their dependency on >> others.” >> -- >> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. >> >> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if >> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or >> moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >> >> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: >> [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at >> [email protected] >> >> The archives for this list can be searched at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VIPhone" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/viphone/71B01ACC-BE92-4700-9A6F-46E21CE99FC0%40gmail.com. >> -- >> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. >> >> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if >> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or >> moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >> >> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: >> [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at >> [email protected] >> >> The archives for this list can be searched at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VIPhone" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/viphone/8338B4BD-6D1D-4E65-8BC8-EB6184DAC1F8%40gmail.com. >> -- >> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. >> >> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if >> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or >> moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >> >> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: >> [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at >> [email protected] >> >> The archives for this list can be searched at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VIPhone" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/viphone/013001d75069%2473bb4580%245b31d080%24%40gmail.com. >> >> -- >> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. >> >> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if >> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or >> moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >> >> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: >> [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at >> [email protected] >> >> The archives for this list can be searched at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VIPhone" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/viphone/BLAPR16MB3636AD1CD0FCF54C6F51A8FBD2269%40BLAPR16MB3636.namprd16.prod.outlook.com. > > -- > The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. > > If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if > you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or > moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. > > Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: > [email protected]. 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