332 results about "Visual impairment" patented technology

A programmable thermostat, with a touch screen liquid crystal display having the capability to change from a more complex first mode display to a simple mode display for users with adaptive, learning or visual impairments that limit their ability to use the relatively complicated user interfaces of prior art programmable thermostats.

Embodiments herein provide / acquire a document in electronic form (e.g., by receiving, copying, retrieving from storage, scanning combined with optical character recognition, etc.) and receive user input regarding visual impairment. In response to one or more levels of user visual impairment, embodiments herein automatically change (for example, immediately after scanning text) an appearance of the document, without requiring any user input, other than the visual impairment input. More specifically, when changing the appearance of the document, embodiments herein can increase the size of characters in the document, change the contrast or coloring of the text and / or background, and provide text-to-speech conversion of the document, thereby (in one embodiment) producing audio output of the text-to-speech conversion in coordination with a corresponding portion of the document being displayed. When changing the appearance of the document, embodiments herein also reformat the document (e.g., around graphic elements) to accommodate the increased size of the characters.

A method of giving the user information on the operation of a portable device, and a portable device. In the method, an event that concerns the operation of the device and interests the user is detected by the control means of the device. If at least one silent alarm pattern producing a tactile sensation in the user is attached to the event, the user is given abstract information on the operation of the device by using at least one silent alarm pattern implemented with the alarm device and sensed by the user. Various alarm patterns differ from one another such that at least one alarm pattern characteristic sensed by the user varies. The characteristic can be the alarm pattern frequency, amplitude, changing rate of the amplitude, changing rate of the frequency or duration of the alarm pattern. One way to perform a silent alarm is vibration. The user interface is particularly intended for users with impaired hearing and / or vision.

Near-to-eye displays within head mounted devices offer both users with and without visual impairments enhanced visual experiences either by improving or augmenting their visual perception. Unless the user directly views the display without intermediate optical elements then the designer must consider chromatic as well as other aberrations. Within the prior art the optical train is either complex through additional corrective elements adding to weight, cost, and size or through image processing. However, real time applications with mobile users require low latency to avoid physical side effects. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide near-to-eye displays mitigating these distortions and chromatic aberrations through pre-distortion based electronic processing techniques in conjunction with design optimization of the optical train with low weight, low volume, low complexity, and low cost. Further, it would be beneficial to exploit consumer grade low cost graphics processing units rather than application specific circuits.

Embodiments of the invention provide devices and methods for capturing text found in a variety of sources and transforming it into a different user-accessible formats or medium. For example, the device can capture text from a magazine and provide it to the user as spoken words through headphones or speakers. Such devices are useful for individuals such as those having reading difficulties (such as dyslexia), blindness, and other visual impairments arising from diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and glaucoma.

Visual impairment, or vision impairment, refers to the vision loss of an individual to such a degree as to require additional support for one or more aspects of their life. Such a significant limitation of visual capability may result from disease, trauma, congenital, and / or degenerative conditions that cannot be corrected by conventional means, such as refractive correction, such as eyeglasses or contact lenses, medication, or surgery. According to embodiments of the invention a method of augmenting a user's sight is provided comprising obtaining an image of a scene using a camera carried by the individual, transmitting the obtained image to a processor, selecting an algorithm of a plurality of spectral, spatial, and temporal image modification algorithms to be applied to the image by the processor, modifying the using the algorithm substantially in real time, and displaying the modified image on a display device worn by the individual.

A method and control unit for medication administering devices. The first aspect of the present invention is automatic programming of the scheduled events. The second aspect is simple user-request expression. The third aspect is guided user operation. The forth aspect is automatic medication-storage mapping. The fifth aspect is no clock setting. Prior art systems typically require the user to figure out a loading-scheduling plan, follow the plan to load the medications, program the scheduled events and tell the system how the medications are stored (manual medication-storage mapping). The system of the present invention does the opposite: it figures out the loading-scheduling plan, guides the user to load the medications, program the scheduled events, and establishes medication-storage mapping, all automatically. The system of the present invention is extremely easy to use, and vision-impaired users can easily use it.

Techniques for a visual disability detection system that employs virtual reality to assess visual performance of a patient based on activities of daily living are described. The virtual reality platform can integrate the testing of different components of visual function based on activities of daily living to provide a direct and clinically relevant measure of the impact of any visual disability on a patient's daily life. By simulating daily tasks for evaluation of visual disability, clinicians can better understand from a patient's perspective how visual impairment affects their daily tasks and quality of life.

A system for enabling the hearing impaired comprises a plurality of servo actuators each associated with a particular segment of a predetermined frequency domain. The servo actuators drive tactile stimulators which engage the skin of the hearing impaired person in patterns that are unique to individual inputs thereby enabling the hearing impaired person to “hear” signals within the defined frequency domain. An electromechanical system for enabling the visually impaired comprises a two dimension array of servo actuators which respond to optical sensors and which actuate tactile stimulators thereby identifying objects in the path of the visually impaired person.

The present invention relates to a low cost motion capture system for clinical utilizations, such as for upper-extremity (UE) motor control rehabilitation. As contemplated herein, the present invention records range of motion data and graphs rotation, flexion, and abduction motions of a targeted joint in real time. In certain embodiments, the hardware of the system may include a simple motion node attachment system, motion node labels, a user's manual, and anatomical diagrams to increase accuracy of motion node placement. In other embodiments, additional features include acceleration data collection and graphical display, rhythmic sound cues for assistance in motion emulation, audio cues for patients with visual impairments, hard copy reports of session results, real time range of motion displays, and a spatial visualization option.

A method of prevention and treatment of microbial infections that occur on, or just below, the skin and nails of a person consisting of electromagnetic radiation to inactivate the microbes thus rendering them harmless. The treatment consists of irradiating an area of the skin and nails for a period of time long enough to inactivate the organisms. Some additional features which are not integral to the treatment but increase the safety of the treatment include shielding of non-infected areas from irradiation and a cover to prevent damage to sight which may result from viewing the electromagnetic radiation.

A radar imaging system for capturing an image of an object within an area of interest through at least one visual impairment. The radar imaging system comprises at least one radar array. The radar array includes a plurality of transmitter elements and a plurality of receiver elements for receiving a plurality of coded return signals from an object through the at least one visual impairment. The system further comprises at least one processor coupled to the transmitter and receiver elements, which is adapted to transmit a plurality of differently coded signals toward the object and the at least one visual impairment; decode the plurality of coded return signals received by each of the receiver elements; extract from the decoded return signals a multiplicity of captured signals for each transmitter to receiver path; focus the multiplicity of signals on all points of interest within the area of interest by aligning the multiplicity of captured signals to be co-incident from a particular point within the area of interest; and sum the aligned signals to produce an image of the object. A method for capturing an image of an object in an area of interest through at least one visual impairment is also provided.

Visual impairment, or vision impairment, refers to the vision loss of an individual to such a degree as to require additional support for one or more aspects of their life. Such a significant limitation of visual capability may result from disease, trauma, congenital, and / or degenerative conditions that cannot be corrected by conventional means, such as refractive correction, such as eyeglasses or contact lenses, medication, or surgery. According to embodiments of the invention a method of augmenting a user's sight is provided comprising obtaining an image of a scene using a camera carried by the individual, transmitting the obtained image to a processor, selecting an algorithm of a plurality of spectral, spatial, and temporal image modification algorithms to be applied to the image by the processor, modifying the image using the algorithm substantially in real time, and displaying the modified image on a display device worn by the individual.

The invention discloses a blind user navigation service system based on a global positioning system (GPS) and a 3rd-generation (3G) network. The system comprises a blind user navigation terminal for acquiring the current position information of a user, downloading a travel scheme given by a navigation server and broadcasting general navigation information to the blind user by voices. The system is characterized by further comprising a central database and the navigation server, wherein the central database stores an electronic map and road condition information; and the navigation server acquires destination information to be reached by the blind user and the current position information of the blind user from the blind user navigation terminal by a high speed network, simultaneously calls the electronic map and the road condition information from a storage server, calculates a navigation distance and an optimal path based on a genetic algorithm to finally form a navigation scheme, and publishes the navigation scheme to the blind user navigation terminal. The system may synchronize information about traffic light, road construction, traffic accidents and the like, and timely synchronizes the information into the terminal by the 3G wireless network. Therefore, the user with visual impairment can move outdoors or indoors by the navigation service system.

This invention concerns the tracking of objects in video data for artificial vision; for instance for a bionic eye. More particularly, the invention concerns a vision enhancement apparatus for a vision-impaired user. In other aspects, the invention concerns a method for enhancing vision and software to perform the method. The image processor operates to process video data representing images of a scene. Automatically detect and track a user selected object, such as a face, in the images. And, automatically modify the video data, by reserving a user selected area of the displayed images for displaying the tracked object as a separate video tile within the scene. The separate video tile remains in the selected area despite movement of the camera relative to the scene, or movement of the user relative to the object or the scene.

Implementation of the present invention takes place in association with the utilization of one or more processed products produced from the Indian Mulberry plant, scientifically known as Morinda citrifolia L., to treat one or more eye disorders that affect vision, such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, night blindness, color blindness, and other related conditions. The processed Morinda citrifolia products from the Indian Mulberry plant may be in the form of a dietary supplement, eye drops, or in another suitable form.

The present invention relates to a system for displaying a video image to a user having a visual impairment. The system comprises a video camera, a data storage device, a processor and an image display device for displaying processed images in a display region. The processor is operative to perform at least one of the operations of (i) including in the display region, a marker at a location offset from a centre of the display region, whereby if the user, who suffers from blurred vision at the centre of the user's visual field, looks at the marker, the user sees the captured image in focus; or (ii) deforming a portion of the captured image by a correction matrix, whereby, upon displaying the processed images by the display device, the correction matrix corrects a deformation in a corresponding portion of the visual field of the user due to the visual impairment.

A device, system, and method of assistance for visually impaired users. The system comprises a plurality of video cameras, often head mounted, computer processors and associated support devices and algorithms configured for computer vision, and a user worn haptic band comprising a plurality (two or more) of distantly spaced haptic transducers. This haptic band is worn such that user's hands are free for other tasks. The system uses its video camera, depth processing algorithms, and object recognition algorithms (hardware and / or software based) to identify a limited number of navigationally important objects. The spatial locations of each object deemed important is output to the user by varying output to the haptic transducers accordingly. The system is configured to identify and report objects as generic objects, identified objects, and potential obstacle objects. The system can also optionally provide audio information or tactile graphics display information pertaining to these objects as well.

A system and a method are provided for rendering on a display of an electronic device a pre-corrected image of an original image to compensate for a visual impairment of a user of the device, such that the pre-corrected image when displayed on the display would be perceived by the user to be in better optical focus than the user would perceive a display of the original image. The steps of the method implemented include receiving hardware characteristics of the display, receiving at least one parameter describing the visual impairment of the user, receiving at least one parameter describing the conditions under which the display is seen by the user, calculating a pupil function, calculating a Point Spread Function (PSF), calculating a pre-corrected image corresponding to at least a portion of the original image to compensate for the visual impairment of the user, and rendering on the display the pre-corrected image.

The invention provides a method and a system for mobile equipment to sense traffic signals on a traveling path and aims at combining traveling direction marking, an electronic compass and the spatial positioning technology on the traveling path to accurately obtain the phase position where the mobile equipment which arrives at an intersection is positioned so as to be capable of accurately pushing traffic signal information to the mobile equipment. The mobile equipment can belong to a pedestrian or a non-motor vehicle or a motor vehicle, and especially for travelers with visual impairment, by the technical scheme, the travelers can accurately obtain current traffic signal conditions of an intersection to pass. According to the technical scheme, an App can be installed on various kinds of mobile equipment, a guiding mark can be generated through a path planning algorithm provided by the App, and the guiding mark can be integrated with position information and traveling direction, so that traffic signal information of a signal phase position where the mobile equipment is positioned can be accurately obtained.

The present invention refers to a medical device for self testing and monitoring the concentration of analytes in a body fluid, or a blood parameter, or for the controlled administration of therapeutic agents, comprising a connectable, preferably pluggable Braille or Braille-like module for visually impaired users, so that both visually impaired users and users not visually impaired can read the data generated by the medical device and / or control the medical device.

An apparatus and a method for enhancing a field of vision of a user with a visual impairment to help the user to navigate safely in the surroundings. The apparatus includes a body, at least one video device coupled to the body for recording a visual image of a physical environment surrounding the user, at least one monitor coupled to the body, a processor which receives signals from the at least one video device and operatively controls the at least one monitor to display the visual image recorded by the at least one video device, and a tunnel vision finder to determine the user's actual vision size. The method includes the step of determining the user's actual vision size, acquiring a visual image of a physical environment surrounding the user, processing the visual image, and displaying the visual image in the user's actual vision.

A microfluidic transducer is overlaid on a two-dimensional display and controlled in accordance with metadata corresponding to a displayed image to cause raising of a surface of the microfluidic transducer to represent objects depicted in the image and at least the relative distance of such objects from a viewing point of the image to form a touch screen allowing the image to be navigated and manipulated in the form of a tactile display, particularly for persons having visual impairment. The distance information is preferably captured during initial capture of the image and stored as metadata but can also be determined by image analysis. Object analysis is also provided for objects in the image for identification that can be conveyed by touch or audibly and the relative hardness of softness, texture and color of objects is conveyed by compliance, motion and / or temperature of the surface of the microfluidics transducer.

The present invention provides a novel system, methods, which include machine learning, and device for providing color and fashion recommendations, including for persons with visual impairment such as color blindness or complete blindness.

The invention discloses a monitoring system for preventing watching TV from a close quarter based on set top box range finding. The system comprises a set top box, an infrared inductor, a minitype camera, an image processing center, and a decision center. The set top box is foundation of the whole monitoring system, and provides physical equipment and computing power. The infrared inductor using passive infrared and using a human body as an infrared inducing source is used to monitor whether a viewer exists in an induction scope and trigger the camera to start. The minitype camera is used to collect images and send the images to the image processing center. The image processing center using face recognition technology and image range finding technology analyzes the images sent by the camera. The decision center carries out corresponding strategies according to analysis and process results of the image processing center and a local timer. An embodiment of the invention also discloses a method for preventing watching TV from a close quarter based on the set top box range finding. The method can flexibly and intelligently carry out corresponding strategies according to practical situations, and prevent asthenopia or even visual impairment of the viewer caused by watching TV from a close quarter for a long time.

The embodiment of the invention discloses an advanced image semantic parsing method based on human-computer interaction. The advanced image semantic parsing method comprises the following steps: scanning a source image by a portable scanning device; identifying a target in the source image; filtering and parsing the content in the source image, and extracting effective knowledge; transmitting the image content to a user in a phonetic form through a semantic organization tool. According to the advanced image semantic parsing method disclosed by the embodiment of the invention, for visual impairment people and people with poor self-study ability, the simple scanning operation is only required, that the image is scanned by a computer with the assistance of the visual system is not required, and the method can help the vulnerable groups to experience a different world, and also can be used as a part of entertainment in the life; the method is simple to execute and good in portability.

A method 300 and device for visual compensation captures 330 an image using an imager, detects 360 whether eyeglasses are present in the image, and sets 363 an electronic visual display to a larger font size, if eyeglasses are not detected as present in the image. If eyeglasses are detected as present in the image, the electronic visual display is set 367 to a normal font size. The method and device can be triggered 320 (for example) by an incoming call or message, by a touch screen activation, a key press, or by a sensed motion of the device. The method can be repeated from time to time to detect whether a user has put on eyeglasses (or taken off eyeglasses) after the first image capture. The method and device compensates for users with presbyopia (and some other types of visual impairments) who intermittently wear glasses.