{"id":673659,"date":"2025-06-05T21:40:17","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T18:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/wearable-device-helps-blind-people-detect-obstacles\/"},"modified":"2025-06-05T21:40:17","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T18:40:17","slug":"wearable-device-helps-blind-people-detect-obstacles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wearable-device-helps-blind-people-detect-obstacles\/","title":{"rendered":"Wearable device helps blind people detect obstacles"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2e8db1bfcd1\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2e8db1bfcd1\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wearable-device-helps-blind-people-detect-obstacles\/#Preliminary_study\" >Preliminary study<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/wearable-device-helps.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/wearable-device-helps.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"The components are stored in the backpack, which can also be used to carry the user's belongings. Credit: Aline Darc Piculo dos Santos Maria Fernanda Ziegle\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/wearable-device-helps.jpg\" alt=\"Wearable device helps blind people detect obstacles\" title=\"The components are stored in the backpack, which can also be used to carry the user's belongings. Credit: Aline Darc Piculo dos Santos Maria Fernanda Ziegle\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                The components are stored in the backpack, which can also be used to carry the user&#8217;s belongings. Credit: Aline Darc Piculo dos Santos Maria Fernanda Ziegle<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Researchers from the S\u00e3o Paulo State University (UNESP) and the Federal University of Esp\u00edrito Santo (UFES) in Brazil have developed a wearable device to help visually impaired people move around. The <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a> has tactile beacons that can warn of the presence of obstacles, guaranteeing users greater autonomy and safety when walking.<\/p>\n<p>Integrated into a backpack, the system consists of a camera with an RGB depth sensor\u2014which captures images in a way very similar to the human visual experience\u2014and an image processing unit with various components, including a Jetson Nano processor. The minicomputer is suitable for tasks such as image classification, object detection, segmentation and speech processing. The details of the research were <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/17483107.2025.2477681\" target=\"_blank\">described<\/a> in the journal <i>Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology<\/i>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The components are stored in the backpack, which can also be used to carry the user&#8217;s belongings. The wires run inside the backpack and the straps, which vibrate when the user <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>roaches an obstacle. If it&#8217;s on the left, the left side vibrates. If it&#8217;s on the right, the right vibrates. And if it&#8217;s in front, both vibrate,&#8221; says Aline Darc Piculo dos Santos, currently a professor at the School of Architecture, Urbanism and Design of the University of S\u00e3o Paulo (FAU-USP) and first author of the article.<\/p>\n<p>The device was developed during Santos&#8217; doctoral studies at the Faculty of Architecture, Arts and Communication (FAAC) at UNESP&#8217;s Bauru campus.<\/p>\n<p>The researcher says she chose to use tactile feedback instead of an audible warning because auditory information plays an important role in the orientation and mobility process for visually impaired people.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Our main objective was, based on wearable technology, to increase obstacle detection, because with a cane you can only map what&#8217;s below the waistline. So the idea isn&#8217;t to replace the cane\u2014a device the user is already used to and is unlikely to stop using\u2014but for it to complement the backpack,&#8221; she explains.<\/p>\n<p>The development of the prototype, called NavWear, involved an interdisciplinary team of designers and electrical engineers, taking into account not only functionality but also aspects such as comfort, device interaction with the user and ease of use.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In addition to a major review of studies on mobility for visually impaired people and research on assistive technologies available for this public, we also partnered with a blind institution to understand user needs. Most devices of this type only address functional aspects. Few studies deal with aspects related to the interaction between the user and the device, which can influence acceptance and satisfaction with the product,&#8221; says the researcher.<\/p>\n<p>                                                                                                        <!-- TechX - News - In-article --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Preliminary_study\"><\/span>Preliminary study<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To arrive at the model described in the article, the researchers conducted a study with 11 visually impaired adults and a health professional specializing in orientation and mobility.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In this preliminary study, visually impaired people expressed a high level of concern about their safety in external and unfamiliar environments, as well as difficulty in identifying obstacles not detected by the common cane,&#8221; says Santos.<\/p>\n<p>The researcher says that the prototype was evaluated from two perspectives: usability of the device and observers&#8217; perception of the user. The first evaluation was carried out in a controlled environment that simulated tasks such as blindfolded walking.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In this testing stage, it was possible to observe that the combined use of the technologies resulted in fewer collisions. Participants also reported feeling more secure and that it was less difficult to complete the route,&#8221; she emphasizes.<\/p>\n<p>According to the researcher, one limitation of the study was the inability to test the prototype on blind people. &#8220;Since it was developed during the <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social<\/a> isolation period of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was this limitation. Although the results cannot be <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a>ized to visually impaired users, as they may have a different interaction, they&#8217;re promising and highlight the device&#8217;s potential for outdoor use,&#8221; she says.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-main__more p-4\">\n<p><strong>More information:<\/strong><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAline Darc Piculo dos Santos et al, NavWear: design and evaluation of a wearable device for obstacle detection for blind and visually impaired people, <i>Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology<\/i> (2025). <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-doi=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1080\/17483107.2025.2477681\" target=\"_blank\">DOI: 10.1080\/17483107.2025.2477681<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                        <!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n                                                <strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n                                                Wearable device helps blind people detect obstacles (2025, June 5)<br \/>\n                                                retrieved 5 June 2025<br \/>\n                                                from https:\/\/techxplore.com\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2025-06-wearable-device-people-obstacles.html\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>\n                                            This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n                                            part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n                                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. 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Credit: Aline Darc Piculo dos Santos Maria Fernanda Ziegle Researchers from the S\u00e3o Paulo State University (UNESP) and the Federal University of Esp\u00edrito Santo (UFES) in Brazil have developed a wearable device to help visually impaired people move&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":673660,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2025\/wearable-device-helps.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-673659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/673659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=673659"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/673659\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/673660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=673659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=673659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=673659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}