Device for Acoustic Support of Orientation in the Surroundings for Blind People

• Main Authors: Mariusz Kubanek, Janusz Bobulski
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-12-01
• Series: Sensors
• Subjects: signal processing; image processing; bioinformatics; bioengineering; blind people; acoustic space
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/18/12/4309

The constant development of modern technologies allows the creation of new and, above all, mobile devices supporting people with disabilities. All work carried out to improve the lives of people with disabilities is an important element of the field of science. The work presents matters related to the anatomy and physiology of hearing, imaginative abilities of blind people and devices supporting these people. The authors elaborated a prototype of an electronic device that supports the orientation of blind people in the environment by means of sound signals. Sounds are denoted to present to a blind person a simplified map of the depth of space in front of the device user. An innovative element of the work is the use of Kinect sensor, scanning the space in front of the user, as well as a set of developed algorithms for learning and generating acoustic space, taking into account the inclination of the head. The experiments carried out indicate the correct interpretation of the modeled audible signals, and the tests carried out on persons with impaired vision organs demonstrate high efficiency of the developed concept.