429 results about "Visually Impaired Persons" patented technology

A method and system for providing global self-service transaction terminals or automatic teller machines (ATMs) affords worldwide web content to ATM customers, centralized management for ATM operators, and supports local and remote administration for ATM field service personnel. The system includes multiple ATMs coupled over a network to a host, and the ATMs are provided with a touch screen interface and an interface for visually impaired persons. The ATMs enable both local and remote administration of ATM operations by bank personnel and an integrated network control. The ATMs are web-enabled, and ATM communications are performed over a communications network.

A virtual computer monitor is described which enables instantaneous and intuitive visual access to large amounts of visual data by providing the user with a large display projected virtually in front of the user. The user wears a head-mounted display containing a head-tracker, which together allow the user to position an instantaneous viewport provided by the head-mounted display at any position within the large virtual display by turning to look in the desired direction. The instantaneous viewport further includes a mouse pointer, which may be positioned by turning the user's head, and which may be further positioned using a mouse or analogous control device. A particular advantage of the virtual computer monitor is intuitive access to enlarged computer output for visually-impaired individuals.

There is presented a system and method for providing real-time object recognition to a remote user. The system comprises a portable communication device including a camera, at least one client-server host device remote from and accessible by the portable communication device over a network, and a recognition database accessible by the client-server host device or devices. A recognition application residing on the client-server host device or devices is capable of utilizing the recognition database to provide real-time object recognition of visual imagery captured using the portable communication device to the remote user of the portable communication device. In one embodiment, a sighted assistant shares an augmented reality panorama with a visually impaired user of the portable communication device where the panorama is constructed from sensor data from the device.

The present invention includes a prepaid telephone calling card for use by the visually impaired. A braille printer is configured to print a wallet-sized, plastic prepaid telephone calling card having one or more information fields printed in braille. A first information field printed in braille corresponds to an access number through which an individual can access a host computer for completing prepaid telephone calls. A second field printed in braille corresponds to a unique account code associated with the prepaid card. Various other information fields may also be printed in braille on the card, as desired. The information fields may also be printed in very large type face to facilitate reading by individuals who are not blind, yet substantially visually impaired.

A thermostat remote control system includes a transmitter / receiver unit hard wired to a building climate control thermostat and a remote control unit that communicates with the hard-wired transmitter / receiver unit via wireless signals. The remote control unit includes braille labels associated with the control elements and further includes sound generators that generate audible signals that correspond to the temperature sensed by the thermostat and that also correspond to actions taken using the remote control.

A remote Braille education system and device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a remote Braille education system includes a first computer system at a first location, second computer systems associated with visually impaired individuals at a second location, and a server. The first computer system includes an input device, and a display device, and each of the second computer systems includes an electronic Braille device(s). The input device is configured for communicating a first set of characters to the electronic Braille device via the server. The electronic Braille device is configured for embossing the first set of characters on a printing medium. Furthermore, the electronic Braille device is configured for transmitting a second set of characters inputted by the visually impaired individual(s) via the server. The display device is configured for displaying the second set of characters received from said one or more of the second computer systems.

A camera-based object detection system for a severely visually impaired or blind person consisting a digital camera mounted on the person's eyeglass or head that takes images on demand. Near-real time image processing algorithms decipher certain attributes of the captured image by processing it for edge pattern detection within a central region of the image. The results are classified by artificial neural networks trained on a list of known objects, in a look up table, or by a threshold. Once the pattern is classified a descriptive sentence is constructed of the object and its certain attributes and a computer-based voice synthesizer is used to verbally announce the descriptive sentence. The invention is used to determine the size of an object, or its distance from another object, and can be used in conjunction with an IR-sensitive camera to provide “sight” in poor visibility conditions, or at night.

The present invention is a server-side method and apparatus that enables visually-impaired users to navigate websites and hear high-quality streaming audio of narration and descriptions of each website. The system involves creating an audible website corresponding to an original website by utilizing voice talent to read and describe web content and create audio files for each section within an original website, then assigning a hierarchy and navigation system based on the original website design. To implement the system, a small program is installed on the home page of an original website which plays a tone upon a user's visit indicating that the website is accessible with the present invention. Upon hearing the tone, a user presses a key on the keyboard to exit the original website and enter the audible website. Audible narration is played through the user's computer, reading text and describing non-text information. The narration includes menus for navigating the site which have a hierarchy substantially similar to that of the original website. Users navigate the website menus and move from website to website by making keystroke commands.

An assistive device includes a sensor that detects information using a first modality; an actuator that conveys information using a second, different modality; and a controller that automatically receives information from the sensor and operates the actuator to provide a corresponding actuation. A sensory assisting system for a user includes assistive devices and a support the user wears to hold the devices in proximity to body parts. The fields of view of the devices' sensors extend at least partly outward from the body parts. The controller reads the sensors and operates the corresponding actuators. A method of configuring a sensory assisting system includes successively activating actuators and receiving corresponding user feedback; determining perceptibility relationships for devices per the feedback; and repeatedly: activating the actuators per a virtual environment, a user avatar position, and the relationships; receiving a user navigation command; and moving the user avatar.

The adaptation of a regular pocket size computer for use by a visually impaired person is provided. A framework is firstly provided for building adapted applications, having adapted input and output services, a system resources library including tools for interacting with these adapted services and an adaptation library. A tactile keyboard is further provided to allow data entry through the screen interface of the computer. The tactile keyboard includes a membrane having raised keys on one side and corresponding screen activating tips on the other. Means for mounting the keyboard above the computer with the screen activating tips positioned in contact less alignment with the corresponding selected areas of the screen interface are also provided.

A system that provides a means for blind or visually impaired people to navigate through a complex environment using auditory cues. Two-way transceiver devices, held by the person, connect through a communications network to a computer system. The computer system activates appropriate auditory signals that are output from audio beacons located throughout the environment based on input provided through the transceiver. Additional interactivity can be incorporated into the system by means of the computer system.

A computer based process for providing a visually impaired subject with multi-modal (local, remote, human-aided, computer-aided), multi-sensory (hearing, touch), information about the subject's physical environment is disclosed, involving identifying at least one guide; identifying at least one subject; establishing a communication connection between the guide and the subject; capturing information about the at least one subject's physical environment; presenting the information about the at least one subject's physical environment to the at least one guide; capturing the guide's response to the at least one subject's physical environment; and communicating the guide's response to the at least one subject. The system may involve a guide computer, a user mounted information collection system for receiving visual signals, audio input signals, and a user mounted information dispensing system for dispensing a haptic signal and an audio output signal. A bi-directional communication system operably linked between the computer, the information collection system, and the information dispensing system enables the computer to receive visual and audio signals from the user and communicates audio output signals from the guide to the user.

An apparatus and method for aiding a visually impaired or blind person to detect, identify and avoid objects in the field of vision of the surroundings. The apparatus includes electro-optical devices to detect and identify objects, a control unit, which receives and processes information from the devices and a vocal representation unit to receive instructions from the control unit for purpose of audibly describing the objects to the person in the field of vision, thereby enabling the person to cope and proceed safely in the surroundings. The method for aiding a visually impaired person to detect, identify and objects in the field of vision surroundings includes the steps of receiving visual images of the objects, receiving range information concerning the objects, processing the image information, and audibly describing to the person the objects in the field of vision, thereby enabling the person to cope with, and proceed in his surroundings.

Methods, systems, and products for radio frequency identification aiding the visually impaired, storing a recording of a sound representing at least one attribute of an object having associated with the object a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag; activating the RFID tag with an electronic travel aid (“ETA”) for the visually impaired; retrieving the recording from storage; and playing the recording through an audio interface of the ETA. Storage of sound recording may be local or remote, and sound recordings may be sorted or indexed and retrieved from storage according to an RFID tag identification code, a classification code for the object, and a type code (a sound skin identifier) for the recording.

The present invention relates to a hand-held communication aid and method that assists the deaf-dumb and visually impaired individuals to communicate with each other and with normal individuals. The method enables deaf-dumb and visually impaired individuals to communicate with each other and with normal individuals on remote communication means without any hardware improvisation. The method enables face to face communication and remote communication aid for deaf-dumb and visually impaired individuals. This method requires no modifications in hand-held communication device used by normal individual.

The invention discloses a plane and barrier detection method based on an RGB-D camera and an attitude sensor, and the method achieves the environmental three-dimensional information recognition with higher resolution, higher refresh rate and higher precision based on the RGB-D camera and the attitude sensor. The method can achieve the recognition of a ground passage, the judgment and early-warning of a ground cavity and various types of barriers and the recognition of scenes of going upstairs and downstairs, and is close to the visual sensing of an environment. Through the cooperation of the attitude sensor, a whole system is more flexible and portable, and the camera does not need to keep a fixed relative position with a user or any other ground reference object. When a visually-impaired person goes out, the camera can be placed at any body part which can photograph a three-dimensional environment. A portable computer or pad compatible with the RGB-D camera can be selected by himself or herself to achieve the same function.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate aids for the visually impaired.

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.

A system and method for assisting a visually impaired individual are disclosed. In one embodiment, when the visually impaired individual encounters a situation with an obstacle, the visually impaired individual employs a first wireless device to transfer audiovisual information about the situation to an assistant with a second wireless device. The assistant analyzes the rendered audiovisual information and provides audio information to the visually impaired individual which presents a solution to the obstacle.

A mobility cane for use by a visually impaired person has a handle portion having an outer surface, an elongated member extending from the handle, a detection apparatus operably mounted on the mobility cane, and a plurality of vibrating tactile transmitters arrayed on the outer surface of the handle operably connected to the detection apparatus.

A system, method and computer program product that provides tactile feedback to assist a visually impaired person in navigation and avoid collisions with obstacles (objects). The system comprises a pressure based tactile response device and a remote control device. The pressure based tactile response device comprises of a pressure pad which includes a plurality of pressure modules that provide a haptic response to the visually impaired person. With a feedback mechanism the pressure based tactile response device provides navigational information to the impaired person and ensures that collisions with obstacles are avoided. The remote control device comprises a plurality of sensors which enable the impaired person to locate the pressure based tactile response device when it is not in his possession.

In an information processing apparatus for the visually impaired, information having, a structure that can be two-dimensionally expanded is divided into pieces of block unit information. The block unit information are mapped to key tops that can be set their protrusion amount from an operating plane at three different height. Attributes and descriptions are represented by sound / voice and the block unit information of a subordinate level is expanded and represented when a predetermined key top is operated. Even if the key tops are limited in number, a complicated hierarchical structure and a layout can be effectively browsed and information can be edited using voice input. Accordingly, the visually impaired can effectively read and edit information. This principal can be applied to specifying and using functions of a personal computer that is hierarchically structured and displaying drawings or mathematical expressions.

A system that provides a means for blind or visually impaired people to navigate through a complex environment using auditory cues. Two-way transceiver devices, held by the person, connect through a communications network to a computer system. The computer system activates appropriate auditory signals that are output from audio beacons located throughout the environment based on input provided through the transceiver. Additional interactivity can be incorporated into the system by means of the computer system.

A system and method for delivering a Human Interactive Proof, or reverse Turing test to the visually impaired; said test comprising a method for restricting access to a computer system, resource, or network to live persons, and for preventing the execution of automated scripts via an interface intended for human interaction.When queried for access to a protected resource, the system will respond with a challenge requiring unknown petitioners to solve an auditory puzzle before proceeding, said puzzle consisting of an audio waveform representative of the names or descriptions of a collection of apparently random objects.The subject of the test must either recognize a semantic or symbolic association between two or more objects, or isolate an object that does not belong with the others, indicating their selection by typing the name of the object with their keyboard.

A system and method for providing learning information for visually impaired people based on a haptic electronic board is disclosed. The system for visually impaired people includes a learning information server in conjunction with a lecture and authoring program; a first information output device (PC) for receiving learning information for people with low vision from the learning information server through a wired / wireless network (LAN or WLAN) and having a viewer program for people with low vision, which is install therein, for providing functions of enlarging and reducing a screen; and a second information output device (haptic electronic board) for accessing to the learning information server through a local wireless network (ZigBee or Bluetooth) by using unique device IDs, converting learning information for blind people received from the learning information server to the haptic electronic board into haptic information, and transferring the haptic information to blind people.

A system for facilitating engagement with a touch screen by a visually impaired person comprises an overlay. The overlay includes a bottom surface having a capacitive component and an overlay locating element. The overlay locating element is configured to interface with a touch screen underlying the overlay to provide a position of the overlay relative to the touch screen. A top surface of the overlay includes a tactile button that is located opposite of the capacitive component. The tactile button and the capacitive component are above the region of a displayed soft button. Engagement of the tactile button by the visually impaired person results in the capacitive component interacting with the touch screen in the region of the displayed soft button to provide a capacitive input detectable by the touch screen.

Radio frequency identification aiding the visually impaired, including receiving in an electronic travel aid (“ETA”) for the visually impaired, from a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag associated with an object, information that describes the object and displaying a description of the object through an interface for a visually impaired person. Information that describes the object may include at least one of a predefined set of attributes that describe the object. Many embodiments include retrieving, in dependence upon a unique identification code, further information describing the object—either locally from an ETA or through a network from a remote store of information.