Multimodal Navigation and Virtual Companion System: A Wearable Device Assisting Blind People in Independent Travel.

Area of Science:

• Assistive Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Rehabilitation Engineering

Background:

• Visual impairment significantly impacts quality of life.
• Existing visual substitution technologies have limitations in safety, robustness, and usability.
• Advancements in sensor and communication technologies offer potential for improved assistive solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a remote companion system for visually impaired individuals.
• To leverage multimodal navigation and remote communication for enhanced daily living assistance.
• To provide real-time, safe, and reliable navigation services for independent travel and activities.

Main Methods:

• Integration of multimodal navigation (sound/laser detection, GPS/Beidou positioning, machine vision).
• Utilizing remote communication and commercial mobile phone functionalities.
• Incorporating human judgment from backend personnel for real-time decision support.

Main Results:

• The system demonstrates strong operability and ease of use.
• Users reported a significant sense of security and companionship.
• The system effectively supports daily activities like independent travel, circulation, and shopping.

Conclusions:

• The developed remote companion system offers a safe, reliable, and user-friendly solution for the visually impaired.
• This visual substitution technology improves quality of life by facilitating independent daily activities.
• The system shows potential for broader application to other vulnerable populations, such as the elderly.