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Manzoor S, Iftikhar S, Ayub I, Shahid A, Haq AU, Muhammad W, Shafique M. Range sensor-based assistive technology solutions for people with visual impairment: a review. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol 2024; 19:576-584. [PMID: 36036390 DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2022.2110618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE There are about 2.2 billion people with visual impairment all over the world. In order to improve the quality of life for visually impaired people, various devices have been developed that support the users to make them capable of performing everyday work. There have been considerable advancements in the development of assistive devices over the last few decades. This work aims to review the research work of past decade to explore the technologies used in the assistive devices for the mobility of the people with visual impairment. It focuses on range sensors based (RSB) solutions and to present a comprehensive comparison for researchers to improve the quality of the assistive devices. METHODS In order to improve life quality of about 2.2 billion people with visual impairment in the world, various assistive devices have been developed. This work aims to review the research work of past decade to explore the technologies used in the assistive devices for the mobility of the people with visual impairment. It focuses on RSB solutions and their comparison. RESULTS Various devices developed or the people with visual impairment, in last decade are described along with their workings. Authors also introduced, their own, newly developed assistive device for the people with visual impairment. The feedback from the people with visual impairment, about assistive technology, is also included in the paper. CONCLUSIONS This study will benefit researchers developing assistive devices to help for the mobility of the people with visual impairment. Through user feedback and evaluation of the assistive devices, the authors have come to the conclusion that performance, weight and cost of the assistive devices are always important considerations to make the assistive devices more popular among their users.Implication for rehabilitationAlthough assistive device cannot rehabilitate a visually impaired person, range sensor-based assistive device may have following implications:•Use of assistive device is growing, and performance, weight and cost of assistive devices are always important considerations so that proposed technology solution should widely be accepted and adopted by the visually impaired people.•The adaptability and acceptability of an assistive device by the visually impaired people must be considered during design phase.•Proposed assistive technological solutions should meet all the needed functions.•Performance of these devices should be assessed in application context so that these devices may help the visually impaired to perform their tasks independently.•At the end, a new light weight and low-cost device developed by authors, is also given, that could be used to assist the visually impaired people to move independently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajjad Manzoor
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mirpur, Pakistan
| | - Saqaf Iftikhar
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mirpur, Pakistan
| | | | - Arqum Shahid
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mirpur, Pakistan
| | - Auwar Ul Haq
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mirpur, Pakistan
| | - Waisf Muhammad
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Shafique
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan
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Mai C, Xie D, Zeng L, Li Z, Li Z, Qiao Z, Qu Y, Liu G, Li L. Laser Sensing and Vision Sensing Smart Blind Cane: A Review. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:869. [PMID: 36679665 PMCID: PMC9864660 DOI: 10.3390/s23020869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Laser sensing and vision sensing smart canes can improve the convenience of travel for the visually impaired, but for the present, most of the system functions of laser sensing and vision sensing smart canes are still defective. Guide equipment and smart blind canes are introduced and classified first, and the smart blind canes based on vision sensing, laser sensing and laser vision sensing are investigated, respectively, and the research status of laser vision sensing smart blind canes is sorted out. The advantages and disadvantages of various laser vision sensing smart blind canes are summarized, especially the research development of laser vision fusion as the core of new smart canes. The future development prospects of laser vision sensing smart blind cane are overviewed, to boost the development of laser vision sensing smart blind cane, to provide safe and efficient travel guarantee for the visually impaired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunming Mai
- College of Physics and Eletronic Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
| | - Dongliang Xie
- College of Physics and Eletronic Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
| | - Lina Zeng
- College of Physics and Eletronic Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
- Key Laboratory of Laser Technology and Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Hainan Province, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
| | - Zaijin Li
- College of Physics and Eletronic Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
- Key Laboratory of Laser Technology and Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Hainan Province, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
| | - Zhibo Li
- College of Physics and Eletronic Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
- Key Laboratory of Laser Technology and Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Hainan Province, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
| | - Zhongliang Qiao
- College of Physics and Eletronic Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
- Key Laboratory of Laser Technology and Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Hainan Province, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
| | - Yi Qu
- College of Physics and Eletronic Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
- Key Laboratory of Laser Technology and Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Hainan Province, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
| | - Guojun Liu
- College of Physics and Eletronic Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
- Key Laboratory of Laser Technology and Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Hainan Province, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
| | - Lin Li
- College of Physics and Eletronic Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
- Key Laboratory of Laser Technology and Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Hainan Province, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China
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Roche J, De-Silva V, Hook J, Moencks M, Kondoz A. A Multimodal Data Processing System for LiDAR-Based Human Activity Recognition. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON CYBERNETICS 2022; 52:10027-10040. [PMID: 34166219 DOI: 10.1109/tcyb.2021.3085489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Increasingly, the task of detecting and recognizing the actions of a human has been delegated to some form of neural network processing camera or wearable sensor data. Due to the degree to which the camera can be affected by lighting and wearable sensors scantiness, neither one modality can capture the required data to perform the task confidently. That being the case, range sensors, like light detection and ranging (LiDAR), can complement the process to perceive the environment more robustly. Most recently, researchers have been exploring ways to apply convolutional neural networks to 3-D data. These methods typically rely on a single modality and cannot draw on information from complementing sensor streams to improve accuracy. This article proposes a framework to tackle human activity recognition by leveraging the benefits of sensor fusion and multimodal machine learning. Given both RGB and point cloud data, our method describes the activities being performed by subjects using regions with a convolutional neural network (R-CNN) and a 3-D modified Fisher vector network. Evaluated on a custom captured multimodal dataset demonstrates that the model outputs remarkably accurate human activity classification (90%). Furthermore, this framework can be used for sports analytics, understanding social behavior, surveillance, and perhaps most notably by autonomous vehicles (AVs) to data-driven decision-making policies in urban areas and indoor environments.
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Dernayka A, Amorim MA, Leroux R, Bogaert L, Farcy R. Tom Pouce III, an Electronic White Cane for Blind People: Ability to Detect Obstacles and Mobility Performances. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21206854. [PMID: 34696067 PMCID: PMC8539875 DOI: 10.3390/s21206854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We present a protocol for evaluating the efficiency of an electronic white cane for improving the mobility of blind people. The electronic cane used during the test is the Tom Pouce III, made of LIDAR sensors (light detection and ranging) with tactile feedback. The protocol comprises two parts. The first part, the “detection test”, evaluates the efficiency of the sensors in the Tom Pouce III for detecting the obstacles found in everyday life (thin and large poles, apertures) under different environmental conditions (darkness, sun light, rain). The second part of the test, the “mobility test”, compares the ability of blind participants to cross a 25 m path by avoiding obstacles with the simple white cane and the electronic cane. The 12 blind participants had between 2 and 20 years of experience of everyday usage of Tom Pouce devices. The results show a significant improvement in the capacity to avoid obstacles with the electronic cane relative to the simple white cane, and there was no speed difference. There was no correlation between the results and the years of experience of the users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aya Dernayka
- Laboratoire Aimé Cotton, Université Paris-Saclay, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 91405 Orsay, France; (A.D.); (R.L.); (L.B.)
- Complexité Innovation Activités Motrices et Sportives, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France;
- Complexité Innovation Activités Motrices et Sportives, Université d’Orléans, 45067 Orléans, France
| | - Michel-Ange Amorim
- Complexité Innovation Activités Motrices et Sportives, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France;
- Complexité Innovation Activités Motrices et Sportives, Université d’Orléans, 45067 Orléans, France
| | - Roger Leroux
- Laboratoire Aimé Cotton, Université Paris-Saclay, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 91405 Orsay, France; (A.D.); (R.L.); (L.B.)
| | - Lucas Bogaert
- Laboratoire Aimé Cotton, Université Paris-Saclay, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 91405 Orsay, France; (A.D.); (R.L.); (L.B.)
| | - René Farcy
- Laboratoire Aimé Cotton, Université Paris-Saclay, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 91405 Orsay, France; (A.D.); (R.L.); (L.B.)
- Correspondence:
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Construction and Analysis of a Novel Wearable Assistive Device for a Visually Impaired Person. Appl Bionics Biomech 2020; 2020:6153128. [PMID: 33123217 PMCID: PMC7584976 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6153128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we have given the design and development of a new wearable device that assists visually impaired individuals to travel independently and confidently. The newly proposed device is based on range-based sensors and would work effectively in both indoor and outdoor conditions. It is constructed in the form of two separate modules; one module is designed such that it can be attached to the waist belt of the user, and the other module is designed to wear it on ankle of the user. Both the modules communicate with each other using wireless communication and can cover the full front environment of the user. The information about the front environment is transmitted to the user, via headphone, by sending a set of voice instructions, stored in a memory card added in the belt module. In order to use the device in crowd mode, appropriate networking techniques were also implemented in the prototype such that the interference of two or more devices in the close vicinity can be avoided. In the end, effectiveness of the device is analyzed and proved by conducting experiments and obtaining statistical results.
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Simultaneous Voltammetric Determination of Acetaminophen, Ascorbic Acid and Uric Acid by Use of Integrated Array of Screen-Printed Electrodes and Chemometric Tools. SENSORS 2019; 19:s19153286. [PMID: 31357396 PMCID: PMC6695936 DOI: 10.3390/s19153286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In the present work, ternary mixtures of Acetaminophen, Ascorbic acid and Uric acid were resolved using the Electronic tongue (ET) principle and Cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique. The screen-printed integrated electrode array having differentiated response for the three oxidizable compounds was formed by Graphite, Prussian blue (PB), Cobalt (II) phthalocyanine (CoPc) and Copper oxide (II) (CuO) ink-modified carbon electrodes. A set of samples, ranging from 0 to 500 µmol·L−1, was prepared, using a tilted (33) factorial design in order to build the quantitative response model. Subsequently, the model performance was evaluated with an external subset of samples defined randomly along the experimental domain. Partial Least Squares Regression (PLS) was employed to construct the quantitative model. Finally, the model successfully predicted the concentration of the three compounds with a normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) of 1.00 and 0.99 for the training and test subsets, respectively, and R2 ≥ 0.762 for the obtained vs. expected comparison graphs. In this way, a screen-printed integrated electrode platform can be successfully used for voltammetric ET applications.
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Meyniel C, Bodaghi B, Robert PY. Revisiting Vision Rehabilitation. Front Syst Neurosci 2017; 11:82. [PMID: 29163077 PMCID: PMC5671942 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2017.00082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Low vision is a condition caused by eye or brain disease, in which visual acuity is 20/70 (3/10 or 6/18) or poorer in the better-seeing eye and cannot be corrected or improved with regular eyeglasses. It impacts personal ability to perform vision-dependent tasks as activities of daily living, walking, reading or using a computer. Rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary training dedicated to improve patients’ functional abilities and quality of life. It has to be personalized to every individual situation, whatever the underlying pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Meyniel
- Department of Neurophysiology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris-Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Bahram Bodaghi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris-Sorbonne University, Paris, France.,Department of Ophthalmology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Pierre-Yves Robert
- Department of Ophthalmology, Limoges Hospital, Limoges, France.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of Limoges, Limoges, France
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A Virtual Blind Cane Using a Line Laser-Based Vision System and an Inertial Measurement Unit. SENSORS 2016; 16:s16010095. [PMID: 26771618 PMCID: PMC4732128 DOI: 10.3390/s16010095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Revised: 12/24/2015] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A virtual blind cane system for indoor application, including a camera, a line laser and an inertial measurement unit (IMU), is proposed in this paper. Working as a blind cane, the proposed system helps a blind person find the type of obstacle and the distance to it. The distance from the user to the obstacle is estimated by extracting the laser coordinate points on the obstacle, as well as tracking the system pointing angle. The paper provides a simple method to classify the obstacle’s type by analyzing the laser intersection histogram. Real experimental results are presented to show the validity and accuracy of the proposed system.
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O’Brien EE, Mohtar AA, Diment LE, Reynolds KJ. A Detachable Electronic Device for Use With a Long White Cane to Assist With Mobility. Assist Technol 2014; 26:219-26. [PMID: 25771607 DOI: 10.1080/10400435.2014.926468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
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Gao Y, Kwok KW, Chandrawanshi R, Squires A, Nau AC, Tsz Z, Tse H. Wearable Virtual White Cane: Assistive Technology for Navigating the Visually Impaired1. J Med Device 2014. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4027033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yabiao Gao
- College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
| | - Ka-Wai Kwok
- College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
| | - Rahul Chandrawanshi
- Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Indian Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India
| | - Alex Squires
- College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
| | - Amy C. Nau
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | | | - Ho Tse
- College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
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Pyun R, Kim Y, Wespe P, Gassert R, Schneller S. Advanced Augmented White Cane with obstacle height and distance feedback. 2013 IEEE 13TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON REHABILITATION ROBOTICS (ICORR) 2013; 2013:6650358. [PMID: 24187177 DOI: 10.1109/icorr.2013.6650358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Font D, Tresanchez M, Pallejà T, Teixidó M, Palacín J. Characterization of a low-cost optical flow sensor when using an external laser as a direct illumination source. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2011; 11:11856-11870. [PMID: 22247696 PMCID: PMC3252013 DOI: 10.3390/s111211856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2011] [Revised: 12/16/2011] [Accepted: 12/17/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, a low cost optical flow sensor is combined with an external laser device to measure surface displacements and mechanical oscillations. The measurement system is based on applying coherent light to a diffuser surface and using an optical flow sensor to analyze the reflected and transferred light to estimate the displacement of the surface or the laser spot. This work is focused on the characterization of this measurement system, which can have the optical flow sensor placed at different angles and distances from the diffuser surface. The results have shown that the displacement of the diffuser surface is badly estimated when the optical mouse sensor is placed in front of the diffuser surface (angular orientation >150°) while the highest sensitivity is obtained when the sensor is located behind the diffuser surface and on the axis of the laser source (angular orientation 0°). In this case, the coefficient of determination of the measured displacement, R(2), was very high (>0.99) with a relative error of less than 1.29%. Increasing the distance between the surface and the sensor also increased the sensitivity which increases linearly, R(2) = 0.99. Finally, this measurement setup was proposed to measure very low frequency mechanical oscillations applied to the laser device, up to 0.01 Hz in this work. The results have shown that increasing the distance between the surface and the optical flow sensor also increases the sensitivity and the measurement range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davinia Font
- Department of Computer Science and Industrial Engineering, University of Lleida, Jaume II, 69, Lleida 25001, Spain.
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Abstract
This editorial summarizes and classifies the contributions presented by different authors to the special issue of the journal Sensors dedicated to Bioinspired Sensor Systems. From the coupling of sensor arrays or networks, plus computer processing abilities, new applications to mimic or to complement human senses are arising in the context of ambient intelligence. Principles used, and illustrative study cases have been presented permitting readers to grasp the current status of the field.
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