Assistive Technology for Independent Mobility: All About Vizion 1
- SensAble
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
Table of Contents:
Introduction
The world is a beautiful place, full of colors, sights, wonders, and the faces of your loved ones. It is truly a place to rejoice in and marvel at, with miracles every step of the way.
But the world is not the same for everyone. For people who are blind or have low vision, it can actually be a very scary and tricky place to navigate.
The world is not made for blind people. Accessibility and inclusivity are not all-pervasive. Often, people with visual impairment need to struggle to do the things we take for granted.
The world is not made for the blind.
Key Takeaways:
A white cane or a guide dog can detect obstacles, but cannot help with navigation.
There has been progress in the use of adaptive technology for blind, however, some basics have not been addressed.
SensAble is building an assistive technology for visually impaired people that aids in independent mobility
Vizion 1 solves several mobility challenges.
Vizion 1 is a step to move towards a more inclusive world.
Navigating the Basics of Accessibility
With so much advancement in assistive technology for blindness and low vision, it seems like the world should have become much more accessible and inclusive for people with visual impairment by now. But that is clearly not the case.
While there has been progress in the use of adaptive technology for the blind to make lives easier for visually impaired people, some basics have not been addressed.
Let’s take independent mobility, for instance—the ability to get from Point A to Point B without hassle. It is something sighted individuals take for granted. GPS apps have made life easy by allowing you to navigate larger distances.
But for visually impaired people, navigating independently is not an easy task.
Independent Mobility—A Struggle for the Blind
When a sighted individual walks, they instinctively avoid obstacles, whether those are things or people. They can step up onto the pavement or notice a flight of stairs approaching. And they can navigate the route to get where they are headed.
For people with blindness or low vision, every step of navigation or moving independently is a struggle. They often rely on other people to guide them. Yes, mobility devices for visually impaired individuals exist, but none of them solve all navigation-related issues in a single, all-purpose device.
A white cane or a guide dog can detect obstacles but cannot help with navigation. A GPS app can guide one to one's destination but cannot detect obstacles. Neither of these assistive devices for the visually impaired can let you know where the elevator or food court inside a mall is! That is when visually impaired people need to rely on sighted individuals to guide them.
"Accessibility allows us to tap into everyone’s potential."
Vizion 1—Assistive Technology for the Visually Impaired
At SensAble, we are building an assistive technology that is wearable for visually impaired people and aids in independent mobility. It is a vision for a more inclusive future; hence, we named it Vizion1.
Vizion1 is designed to address all the challenges faced by visually impaired people when it comes to independent mobility.
Vizion 1—A Wearable That Feels Like a Sighted Friend.
All About Vizion1—A Wearable that Aids Independent Mobility
Vizion 1 is a wearable in the form of a pair of bands worn around the ankles, providing a one-stop solution for all mobility needs. Someone who is blind or has low vision usually needs multiple mobility aids to get from one point to another.
Let us understand this better by taking an example. Let’s say a blind lady wants to visit the new coffee shop a few blocks away.
A Blind Lady Visits the New Coffee Shop in Town;
She takes out her white cane, holds the leash of her guide dog, turns on Apple Maps, and also uses an AI app that uses computer vision technology.
She heads out of the door of her house and is immediately bombarded with the cacophony of traffic, noises, and people talking loudly. She lets her guide dog lead the way for her but still feels intimidated when strangers brush past her in the hustle and bustle.
She juggles her white cane, cranks up the sound on Apple Maps to the highest, and also tries to hear the AI app read the street sign aloud.
It is an ordeal just to try out a new coffeehouse.
Imagine how much more difficult it would be to travel greater distances or navigate down more complex paths.
How Vizion1 Solves Mobility Challenges?
Let's understand how Vizion 1 solves mobility challenges:
Obstacle Recognition: The most common problem faced by visually impaired individuals is knowing if their path is clear. Even if they can sense an obstacle with a white cane, it is difficult to determine the exact nature and size of the obstacle. They might also not know the direction to step in to avoid the obstacle or how many steps they need to take. Vizion1 solves these problems. Through haptic or audio feedback, Vizion1 alerts the user of the nature of the obstacle as well as how exactly to avoid it.
Surface Mapping: Vizion 1 can detect changes in the surface. The user gets alerted to textural changes like moving from grass to pavement. Even surface changes, such as an approaching staircase, can be conveyed through haptic or audio feedback. The user can get specific cues about the number of stairs and whether they are going up or down.
Indoor Navigation: Apple Maps can help visually impaired people navigate the outdoors. But what about finding their way indoors? When a visually impaired person steps inside a mall, they have to rely on sighted guides to find escalators, lifts, food courts, washrooms, and so on. Vizion 1 solves this problem. It has integrated indoor maps of common public places like malls, restaurants, and even hospitals. This way, Vizion 1 does not leave a person’s side, whether they are outdoors or indoors.
Vizion 1: A Wearable Revolution in Assistive Technology
Features of Vizion 1:
Beyond Traditional Aids: While mobility devices for walking, white canes, and guide dogs have limited functions, Vizion 1 enhances independent mobility.
Advanced Object & Surface Recognition: Detects surroundings more efficiently than standard devices for the blind.
Indoor Navigation: Helps users navigate complex indoor spaces without external assistance.
Self-Adapting Technology: Adjusts in real time to different environments, ensuring a smooth experience.
Haptic Feedback Focus: Provides intuitive alerts without relying solely on audio, making it more inclusive.
Compatible with Existing Solutions: Works alongside canes, guide dogs, and sighted guides, acting as a complementary tool rather than a replacement.
True Accessibility: Goes beyond standard assistive devices for the blind, bridging the gap between current solutions and true independence.
Vizion 1 Product Updates: Research & Development
Let's understand the findings and milestones of Vizion 1:
Initial Findings from Vizion 1 Alpha Testing
Core functionalities were tested extensively, revealing key insights:
Clear Path Detection: Achieved 85% accuracy, showcasing reliable navigation support.
Obstacle Detection: Currently at 50% accuracy, requiring further refinement for enhanced safety.
Left/Right Navigation: Needs improvement, with 30% accuracy at this stage.
Haptics Enhancement: Requires more precise confinement to improve communication feedback.
Battery Life: Lasts 4 hours, providing a strong starting point for further optimizations.
Future Development Milestones
Milestones:
Advancing assistive technology products for better navigation and interaction.
Refining assistive devices for visually impaired individuals to improve accuracy.
Enhancing new technology for blind and visually impaired users for seamless mobility.
Increasing efficiency of aids for blind people, ensuring a more intuitive experience.
Vizion 1 Helps Those Who Can’t See, Move.
How Will Vizion 1 Make Lives Better?
Vizion 1 will improve lives by:
Fostering Independence: When individuals can move freely without support or guidance, their sense of independence will be enhanced. This, in turn, lends confidence and enables people to strive toward goals and self-actualization.
Enabling Education & Employment: While education and employment require their own set of assistive devices for the vision impaired, independent mobility allows people to access these valuable opportunities.
Social and Emotional Well-Being: Being able to go out and socialize can greatly enhance a person’s social well-being. The sense of enablement that comes with moving independently is also conducive to emotional well-being.
Safety and Security: It goes without saying that visual impairment can put a person’s safety at risk. Obstacle detection, surface mapping, and navigation support enhance the safety of the individual.
"For most of us, technology makes things easier. For a person with a disability, it makes things possible."
Vizion1—‘Moving’ Towards an Inclusive World
The phrase ‘Nothing about us without us’ is commonly used to convey that policies and programs involving certain groups should not be made without their full involvement.
The idea of Vizion 1 was borne out of the personal challenges of Sakshi Srivastava, the CEO of SensAble. Diagnosed with gradually worsening visual impairment, she faced firsthand the accessibility challenges of blind individuals.
After all, the world can only be made better if it includes everyone, accommodating their various needs and requirements.
Each individual contributes something wonderful to society, enriching it with their uniqueness, skills, and outlook.
The world is made better when people feel included rather than marginalized. And Vizion 1 is a big leap towards inclusivity, fulfilling the basic need for independent mobility with a one-stop solution.
Vizion 1 is designed to help those who can’t see move.
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