Toyota through its robotics department has come up with a new gadget aimed at assisting the movement of the blind and people with other visual impairments. In the past, Toyota has been known to deal with autos and this move comes as a surprise to many in the technology industry. The initiative dubbed Project BLAID introduces the first ever wearable technology invented to provide guidance to those with visual challenges in closed spaces such as shopping malls and offices.
In Detail
The gadget takes the form of a traveling neck pillow and is meant to be worn on the shoulder. Cameras have been installed and programmed to identify doors, escalators and staircases. BLAID also has built-in vibration motors and amplifiers which communicate to the wearer concerning their surroundings. Over and above that, users are also able to interact with it since it comes with voice recognition elements. This is a device that many people are waiting for but the management at Toyota is yet to announce the release date.
This gadget they say was invented as they were brainstorming on how to improve mobility. They acknowledged the fact that their huge client’s base has been so loyal and placed them at the top over so many years. This to them is just a gesture of appreciation to the population they thought faced the biggest challenge when it comes to mobility. The cameras are able to tell the difference between different exits and entrances, for example if the user communicates the need to visit a washroom, it will not direct them to the boardroom, and so on.
In a video showing how this gadget is expected to work, a visually challenged man is taken through how the device works. He is seen fastening it on his shoulders and one of the researchers at Toyota illustrates how it can be able to notice a bathroom sign and direct the man there. According to the manager in the robotics department, improving on the mobility of such people will make them more productive and reduce the dependency rate significantly. With such a gadget, they can move around just like any other person and even work in normal offices with the help of other visual aids.
Future Plans
After this device has been launched and passed the test in a real life situation, researchers at Toyota are planning to improve its functionality by introducing facial recognition features, object identification, and mapping. The robotics department was specifically established with an aim of bringing solutions to the population especially in Toyota’s country of origin, Japan. Their target was the elderly who were faced with a serious challenge of mobility, yet the young people who were expected to be helping them were busy earning a living.
Besides the visual aid, they have also developed a robotic leg which is strapped on the limbs of people who have lost their ability to walk for one reason or another. There is also another robot designed to fetch and pass over items to people who cannot make movements. From this, we realize that the robotics department is mainly aiming at adding value to the lives of the people with various disabilities and giving them the ability to continue with their lives.
When making this decision, the management considered the fact they have been a source of mobility for many people through their vehicle manufacturing business. For many years, they have been the most used brand both in Japan and the world over. They, however, realized that there is a population that will never benefit from their vehicles no matter how posh and automatic they make them. It has been possible to customize cars for the crippled and other such physical impairments but the blind have not been so lucky. It is for this reason that they decided to bring mobility to the visually impaired as well through project BLAID. They acknowledged that while most people will appreciate moving around in cars; this is a privilege not everyone can enjoy even if they can afford.
Conclusion
When programming the device, developers are working with volunteers who have different visual impairments. It is their hope that they will be able to reach as many people as possible and bring a lasting solution their way. Technology is moving towards wearable technology at a very high speed as it has been speculated that this trend will replace mobile devices in the near future.
