Now I See [travel aid for the visually impaired]

The ability to live independently is a significant and desirable quality for the visually impaired; however, moving around without direct help from another individual can be a difficult feat. At VisuAid, we are developing Now I See, our new travel aid device for the visually impaired, that will provide our clients with a novel way to perceive their environment.Through a depth camera, the user's surroundings will be examined and any obstacles (including pits) will be reported through a vibratory interface worn on the forehead. With this information, the user will be able to 'sense' the obstacles and their relative positions, thereby acknowledging and avoiding them. Also, by moving their head they will be able to estimate the size of an obstacle as the camera will detect its edges.