TactiVision [interface to assist the blind]

Have you ever imagined being blind, even if only for a few days or even hours? For many people the world over, simple day-to-day tasks are made incredibly difficult, and many times impossible, by their lack of sight.Blind people have many fascinating techniques for finding their way around – increased aural acuity and seeing-eye dogs are just two examples. But such tools are very limited in their capacity to convey useful information about nearby objects and their appearances to those who employ them. By incorporating existing technology into our design solution, we intend to allow the blind to feel what they cannot see. Though it is unlikely that such technology will ever be as good as the real thing, it has the potential of eliminating many of the obstacles currently facing the blind and vision impaired.By using a more integrated approach to our design than the expensive technologies that are presently available, we intend to demonstrate that a high resolution tactile interface is possible, without the exorbitant price tag.