New device to help the blind move around
Posted on: 13/Jun/2016 6:15:57 PM
Live Braille has developed a wearable device that may change the way the blind move around. The device is in the form of a ring. It can help a blind person navigate his way by sending haptic feedback or vibrations through the sense of touch. Some people who have used it say, It is better than any cane or guide dogs. I feel liberated. There is a sense of freedom. I am very, very happy.
The founder of Live Braille says, The product is the only fully wearable ETA (Electronic Travel Aid) that allows you to simply swipe your hand in the air to know your environment in an instant, spot obstacles and walk much faster.
The device can detect the distance and the speed of an object it is pointed towards through the help of ultrasonic range finders. It can also detect whether the object is a wall, a book or a human being in the range of upto 3.5 metres. At least ten different kinds of signals can be sent by the device through a combination of amplitude and intensity of vibrations.
Says the founder of Live Braille, Live Braille is 100 times better than the best mobility device widely available across the globe. Live Braille is much more precise in terms of its feedback which takes 1/50th of a second thus allowing a person to move around faster. The weight of the product at 30g and its battery life give it an edge over other similar aids.
The Mini and Mini E (Education) are the versions of Live Braille and are available at USD 299 and USD 699 respectively. In India, the Mini is available at a subsidised price of Rs 6,999 and has to be procured through an NGO. While a Mini takes 45 minutes to recharge, a Mini E takes 60 minutes but has double the battery life. Mini E can also record and store audio books and be used to listen to them, besides playing FM radio. It comes with a no-questions-asked return policy to boot.
