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Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind - Science/Technology - Nairaland

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Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by oladayo042: 7:36am On Jul 16, 2012



MORE than 285m people across the globe suffer from visual impairment. Yet the tools to assist the blind in walking have changed little since the 1920s, when their canes started being painted white to make other pedestrians more aware of their presence. The gizmos that do exist have tended to be expensive and clunky, and have not caught on. This may change if Anirudh Sharma, a 24-year-old computer engineer from Hyderabad, a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, has his way.

His innovation, dubbed “Le Chal” ("take me along" in Hindi) pairs a smartphone app with a small actuator sewn inside the sole of one shoe via Bluetooth. The user tells the phone his desired destination, which is translated into electronic commands using voice-recognition software. The app, which can be programmed to run in the background, fetches the local map of the area. The phone’s Global Positioning System (GPS) tracks the person’s location in real-time, telling the actuator to vibrate when it is time to turn. The side of the shoe where the vibration is felt indicates which way to go. Mr Sharma opted for a vibrating signal because for the blind, who rely on their sense of hearing to make sense of the environment, audio feedback is a distraction.

The system does not require constant internet access. Once downloaded, maps can be stored locally and combined with GPS data. The app uses Open Street Maps (OSM), an open-source rival to Google Maps. OSM allows editing, a helpful feature in updating rapidly changing urban landscapes. A speed-dial function can rapidly retrieve the most frequently visited routes. 

The shoe pod is also equipped with an obstacle-detection mechanism. A sensor in the tip of the shoe, devised by Mr Sharma’s business partner, Krispian Lawrence,  scans the vicinity using sonar, which emits ultrasounds that bounce off obstacles, indicating their presence. The shoe sets off a distinct pattern of vibrations to alert the person of any obstruction and guides him around it.

For now, the footwear, being tested at the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, one of India’s biggest eye-health facilities, may be most useful in areas with little or no traffic, such as quiet residential streets or parks. The challenge, Mr Lawrence says, is to get the algorithm to tell an uncovered manhole from a flight of stairs, but he expects it to be able to do so in due course. Dealing with moving obstacles like cars may take longer, though the pair are working on ways to alert wearers not just about cars' presence, but also their speed. 

To ensure that the final product resembles a regular shoe, fashion technologists are being consulted to help with ergonomics and design. Mr Sharma and Mr Lawrence, who started a company called Ducere Technologies to commercialise their idea, say their high-tech brogues should not cost more than an ordinary, stylish pair. Many of the world's visually impaired will like the sound of that.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2012/07/footwear-blind?fsrc=scn/tw/te/bl/bluetoothshoes
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by Nobody: 7:57am On Jul 16, 2012
Nice invention! At last a useful use of the smartphone.
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by sizzlers(m): 8:13am On Jul 16, 2012
ok
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by NigeriaKwenu(m): 4:43pm On Jul 16, 2012
Most blind people are poor. How much does the show cost?

Afam4eva(i need to be unabnned)
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by Nobody: 4:50pm On Jul 16, 2012
NigeriaKwenu: Most blind people are poor. How much does the show cost?

Afam4eva(i need to be unabnned)


why are u spamming all threads with these your UNBAN ME plea. it's disgusting and as a matter of fact, i think u need to be killed

1 Like

Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by miteolu(m): 4:53pm On Jul 16, 2012
If we have blinds on Nairaland then a tread should be dedicated to them. But I cant be their moderator.
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by NigeriaKwenu(m): 4:54pm On Jul 16, 2012
Kayusfity:


why are u spamming all threads with these your UNBAN ME plea. it's disgusting and as a matter of fact, i think u need to be killed
How mmuch was your salary for last month? Until you start making at least 300 thousand every month, don't talk to me.

1 Like

Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by speeder(m): 4:57pm On Jul 16, 2012
NigeriaKwenu: Most blind people are poor. How much does the show cost?

Afam4eva(i need to be unabnned)
whats their business with who is rich and who is poor. All they know is they've invented what will help d blind. Simple.
Everything true Nigerians will b talking about d poor. If u are poor, u dont have to buy it.
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by Nobody: 5:07pm On Jul 16, 2012
Nice innovation

1 Like

Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by tarfaadam(m): 5:09pm On Jul 16, 2012
See wahala again wooo, weitin blin man go carry bluetooth do for condition.
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by onyengbu: 5:10pm On Jul 16, 2012
NigeriaKwenu:
How mmuch was your salary for last month? Until you start making at least 300 thousand every month, don't talk to me.
ouch! cheesy

1 Like

Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by Silvawazza(m): 5:11pm On Jul 16, 2012
I love dis idea... 9c one!
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by Pukkah: 5:11pm On Jul 16, 2012
Great thinking. Very thoughtful. This is the way to live life - try to make other people's lives easier. This is the real meaning of godliness and not the dogmatic embrace of religion.
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by tarfaadam(m): 5:12pm On Jul 16, 2012
See wahala again wooo, weitin blin man go carry bluetooth do for condition.
Infat thiss shoe na waste of Benjamins (Naira) rain go destroy it sav
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by Nobody: 5:13pm On Jul 16, 2012
I love this.creativity,impacting,changing,and making d world a better place and enjoyable 4 d less privileged.kudos to d inventors. I'm working on mine*winks*
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by ebamma(m): 5:15pm On Jul 16, 2012
which blind man go siddon read all this grammar?.
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by Pukkah: 5:19pm On Jul 16, 2012
ebamma: which blind man go siddon read all this grammar?.

You're obviously not aware that the blind can read.
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by babsmii(m): 5:22pm On Jul 16, 2012
ebamma: which blind man go siddon read all this grammar?.


silly, so they should trace every blind man on earth to deliver the message to their door step. how do they usually hear about new stuffs. dvmb a$$
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by JideTheBlogger(m): 5:23pm On Jul 16, 2012
NigeriaKwenu: Most blind people are poor. How much does the show cost?

Afam4eva(i need to be unabnned)

Wetin you do na?
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by babsmii(m): 5:29pm On Jul 16, 2012
ebamma: which blind man go siddon read all this grammar?.

assume you have a blind relative, how else will he/she know this kinda shoe exist. won't you tell him/her, you with 2eyes do not even have sense.
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by Pukkah: 5:36pm On Jul 16, 2012
tarfa_adam: See wahala again wooo, weitin blin man go carry bluetooth do for condition.
Infat thiss shoe na waste of Benjamins (Naira) rain go destroy it sav

You're seeing problems instead of opportunities. Is there no room for water-proofing? Is the weather wet all-year round? How many hours per day on the average would the shoes be in use?
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by babsmii(m): 5:45pm On Jul 16, 2012
tarfa_adam: See wahala again wooo, weitin blin man go carry bluetooth do for condition.
Infat thiss shoe na waste of Benjamins (Naira) rain go destroy it sav

Nigerian youths! very dvmb and silly... and yet you complain of no job, tell me how any reasonable employer will give you a job if you think like this. if video cameras can work under water then what is this compared to it.
instead of you to just get on google and search for water resistant panels and chips, how it works and so on. this is what you spit out. smh

1 Like

Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by kilimanjaro(m): 5:49pm On Jul 16, 2012
Great news!
I wonder what life would be without technology. Those our fore-fathers them try o.
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by Donbasi(m): 5:56pm On Jul 16, 2012
beautiful innovation there jare.
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by stolenstone: 6:01pm On Jul 16, 2012
afam unban that guy na?? Them go fry egg for you to unban d guy? Anyway while you are at it, also unban me too because me sef no understand wetin i do NL mods wey make dem peg me down! Unban me too!
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by Lobolintin(m): 6:07pm On Jul 16, 2012
kilimanjaro: Great news!
I wonder what life would be without technology. Those our fore-fathers them try o.
Guy,am disapointd in u...bluetooth was usd by ur forefather to kil,bulet prof was woren by ur fathers,dem get airport,and plain, thnk u wil knw what i mean.
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by Ninilowo(m): 6:11pm On Jul 16, 2012
see, this thing cant just work in Nigeria with our crazy drivers all around.. Imagine some1 wearing the stuff along LASU-IYANA IBA. Eh? abeg. Next topic.
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by Nobody: 6:27pm On Jul 16, 2012
NigeriaKwenu:
How mmuch was your salary for last month? Until you start making at least 300 thousand every month, don't talk to me.


what has my salary got to do with this? Do you think i'm a low life like you? I earn a staggering N91,000 and if u dare earn close to that it will be in your dreams. F.O.O.L a.k.a Cry baby angry angry angry angry angry
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by kilimanjaro(m): 6:28pm On Jul 16, 2012
Lobolintin:
Guy,am disapointd in u...bluetooth was usd by ur forefather to kil,bulet prof was woren by ur fathers,dem get airport,and plain, thnk u wil knw what i mean.
I don't have to think to gat ya pants.
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by slimyem: 6:31pm On Jul 16, 2012
Ninilowo: see, this thing cant just work in Nigeria with our crazy drivers all around.. Imagine some1 wearing the stuff along LASU-IYANA IBA. Eh? abeg. Next topic.
did u read the article?
It says the shoe will be most useful in residential areas...!
Nice innnovation btw...
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by cowgurl: 6:33pm On Jul 16, 2012
24 year old? Cool!

For record purpose, 'v read and seen folks who are doing well with whatsoever disabilities they have, are they any different? We need to grow past this mentality please!

@Topic, great mind @ work, am deeply impressed! The idea is great + expensive so it should pay out!
Re: Bluetooth Shoes: Footwear For The Blind by Wallie(m): 6:40pm On Jul 16, 2012
Ninilowo: see, this thing cant just work in Nigeria with our crazy drivers all around.. Imagine some1 wearing the stuff along LASU-IYANA IBA. Eh? abeg. Next topic.

Why can't it work? It is true that the sonar detector will get a lot of false positives but that's just one element of the invention. I see this working pretty well in conjunction with other means currently being used by blind people.

Do you know how blind people currently navigate their surroundings? They usually only go to familiar places alone and navigate by counting number of steps taken.

With this invention, blind people can now go to unfamiliar places without worrying about when to take a left or a right! All they have to do is to tell their smart phone where they’re going and the smart phone will give them the directions!

The only thing that makes this invention not so novel is the fact that you can currently do the same with most navigation software but they will give you voice prompts instead of buzzing your feet.

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