Blind Sight Navigator: A New Orthosis for People with Visual Impairments

Abstract

People with visual impairments face challenges daily when venturing in unfamiliar environments without assistance. In this paper, we introduce a new technological orthosis, the Blind Sight Navigator (BSN), for blind people or those whose sight is deteriorating due to a medical condition, which is a new advance in the fields of assistive technology and computer science, aim to promote autonomy and to enhance the quality of life of people who suffer visual impairments. Our prototype was created in order to propose a new alternative that is non-invasive and offers potential applications to virtual reality. This article explains its functioning and how it can help people with visual impairments. Also, we present the preliminary results of an experimental phase that was conducted to assess the reliability of our prototype.