Electronic Blind Guide

2001/11/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingeniaritza

Researchers from the CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research) are designing an electronic stick that replaces the traditional white stick of the blind. The white stick will be equipped with a laser system that detects the obstacles that the blind can find along the way. To know the closeness or greatness of the obstacle, the information sent by the laser beams will be addressed by different vibrations or notes.

At the moment two devices have been designed: Tom Pouce and Télétact. The first detects obstacles at four meters and the second detects profiles and helps to know the shape.

They will only have a drawback to getting a device to help them orient themselves: money. The first round is 1,000 euros and the second costs about 2,500 euros.