With the use of technology, those who are blind may be able to navigate around their surroundings. The company Chaotic Moon has developed a proximity-sensing headband that could help improve the lives of the visually impaired by using haptic feedback to guide the user.
The team of thinkers, builders, designers and developers at Chaotic Moon developed a conceptual device called Sentiri, which is a headband that uses infrared depth sensors to detect objects in the environment. The device uses "haptic language," a non-verbal form of communication, to send vibrations ranging in intensity to alert the user to avoid an obstacle like a wall or piece of furniture. The stronger the vibration means the user is nearby an obstacle.
The 360-degree headband, previous called Project Halo, lets the user "feel the area" via the vibrations, allowing them to have an added sense.
It provides a hands-free experience, without requiring a UI or touchscreen to navigate. However, the headband can be connected to apps like Google Maps to safely guide the blind or those with poor vision safely to their destination.
However, the company believes that the device could be targeted toward more users than just the visually impaired, such as soldiers, who could receive silent vibrations instead of radio messages. This would help them go undetected in war zones. They could also use thermal sensors instead of the headband's infrared sensors to be be able to navigate in the dark.
Chaotic Moon does not have a specific release date for Sentiri.
Source: Engadget
