Roboglasses electronic travel aid with hands free obstacle avoidance for blind and vision impaired users

Project Summary Fauxsee Innovations LLC The objective of this project is to assess the efficacy and usability of an electronic travel aid ETA called Roboglasses developed through an NSF SBIR grant in reducing head and upper body injuries sustained by blind people who currently use a cane and or guide dog for mobility Canes and dogs only provide information about ground level obstructions and existing ETAs are intrusive convey limited information content and require a steep learning curve to master Our Roboglasses solution provides a new approach to obstacle detection avoidance designed to address these shortcomings and improve the safety and efficiency of independent travel for blind users Our approach uses a simple hands free solution that provides a new channel of haptic communication to convey environmental information to the user in an intuitive silent and easy to use manner The Roboglasses ETA worn like a pair of sunglasses frees the hands to use the dog hold a cane or other object it delivers detailed information about the location distance and direction of obstacles using an unobtrusive haptic interface where learning is natural and intuitive vs requiring cognitive effort and prolonged training As the sensing and delivery of haptic information is coupled to the head rather than the hand as is the case with other ETAs it provides better perceptual coupling with distance directional cues and more natural information related to the userandapos s direction of movement This project proposes to build four advanced models of the Roboglasses ETA and conduct in depth human trials with totally blind adults to determine if the new ETA significantly improves protection of these users from head and upper body injuries during navigation Additional experiments will refine interface parameters and usability characteristics to ensure the system is optimized for blind users and includes their input in the design process Adopting this human centered iterative design approach is rare in ETA development but ensures that the end product is likely to be accepted and adopted by the target demographic The experimental trials combine lab based empirical procedures and qualitative user feedback based on meticulously planned testing environments The environments use obstacles that mimic real life hazards that frequently cause upper body and head injuries to blind people An initial sequence of tests will be conducted to optimize interface usability and ensure adherence to good human factors design ETA sensor data video recording and behavioral performance on temporal and error measures and survey responses will be analyzed and correlated to improve device design and for publication of results to advance ETA science Two members of the research team are blind Brandon Foshee Fauxseeandapos s president and Dr Nicholas Giudice an expert in Orientation and Mobility techniques and assistive technology design This first hand phenomenology is lacking in most research and development efforts of assistive technologies but is critical for establishing user needs and for understanding what works and doesnandapos t work in an ETA insight that will guide all aspects of system design and evaluation Project Narrative Fauxsee Innovations LLC The Phase I STTR objective is to assess effectiveness and usability of a patented electronic travel aid ETA called Roboglasses in reducing the number of head and upper body injuries sustained by blind people who currently use a cane and or a guide dog for mobility A human trial will be conducted to determine that the new ETA not unlike an instrumented pair of sunglasses with on board sensors and haptic light touch feedback devices will alert blind users to avoid obstacles better than current options on the market today Our solution is expected to improve the safety and independence of travel by blind people and is designed by an expert team who are uniquely qualified to bring the system to market