Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2025
09:29
A Standardized Obstacle Course for Assessment of Visual Function in Ultra Low Vision and Artificial Vision
Published on: February 11, 2014
13.2K
IoT Enabled Intelligent Stick for Visually Impaired People for Obstacle Recognition
Muhammad Siddique Farooq1, Imran Shafi2, Harris Khan2
1National Centre for Robotics and Automation, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 26, 2022
Summary
This smart stick uses IoT technology to help visually impaired individuals navigate safely. It detects obstacles and provides real-time alerts, enhancing mobility and independence.
Area of Science:
- Assistive Technology
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Visually impaired individuals face significant challenges navigating outdoor environments.
- Existing assistive devices often lack comprehensive obstacle detection and real-time location tracking capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and develop an Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled smart stick for the visually impaired.
- To enhance user safety and independence through advanced obstacle detection and navigation assistance.
Main Methods:
- Integration of ultrasonic sensors, water sensors, and a high-definition camera with object recognition.
- Implementation of dual feedback modes: vibration for direction and voice for object identification.
- Utilizing Global Positioning System (GPS)/Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) modules for real-time location tracking via an IoT platform.
- Inclusion of a panic button for emergency assistance, sending SMS alerts with location data.
Main Results:
- The smart stick successfully detects various obstacles and environmental hazards like puddles.
- Object recognition capabilities allow for accurate identification and voice feedback to the user.
- The IoT platform enables live location monitoring and emergency SMS alerts with Google Maps links.
- The device is designed to be lightweight, waterproof, adjustable, and energy-efficient with long battery life.
Conclusions:
- The developed IoT-enabled smart stick offers a robust and comprehensive solution for enhancing the mobility and safety of visually impaired individuals.
- The combination of advanced sensors, object recognition, and real-time tracking significantly improves navigation assistance.
- The system's user-friendly features, including dual feedback modes and an emergency panic button, promote independence and security.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Vision
54.8K
Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.
54.8K
01:14Design Example: Resistive Touchscreen
399
A device engineer plays a crucial role in designing user interfaces for mobile devices. One such interface is the resistive touchscreen, which fundamentally consists of two metallic layers: a flexible upper layer and a rigid lower layer, separated by a narrow gap. The high resistance between these two layers is a key characteristic of this design.
When a user touches the screen, the two layers make contact at a specific point known as the touchpoint. This contact reduces the resistance between...
When a user touches the screen, the two layers make contact at a specific point known as the touchpoint. This contact reduces the resistance between...
399
01:12Visual Agnosia
268
Visual agnosia is a condition characterized by the inability to recognize visually presented objects despite having normal vision. For instance, a person with visual agnosia can describe the shape and color of an object but cannot identify or name it. This impairment does not affect their visual field, acuity, color vision, brightness discrimination, language, or memory. An example of this condition in a social setting is someone at a dinner party asking for "that silver thing with a round...
268
02:07Blind Procedures
10.8K
Ideally, the people who observe and record the children’s behavior are unaware of who was assigned to the experimental or control group, in order to control for experimenter bias. Experimenter bias refers to the possibility that a researcher’s expectations might skew the results of the study. Remember, conducting an experiment requires a lot of planning, and the people involved in the research project have a vested interest in supporting their hypotheses. If the observers knew which...
10.8K