Towards a mobile navigation device

Abstract

This paper builds on our recently introduced concept of a portable, non-invasive navigation aid, called a bionic eyeglass, which assists the blind and visually impaired in everyday situations by detecting and recognizing objects and understanding basic events. We present the results of the first online tests carried out by blind subjects on an experimental prototype of the system, which is built on a cellular visual computer. The tests involved laboratory experiments and outdoor live test cases. Users could handle the device easily and the results show that it can provide real help in the given tasks.