A group of student engineers in Indiana has developed a wearable device designed to help people who are blind or visually impaired detect obstacles that can be difficult to identify with a cane or guide dog alone. The project, called AuralVision, combines distance-sensing technology and haptic feedback to provide additional awareness of nearby objects, WKRC reported.
The idea originated with John Marum, a Rose-Hulman graduate and founder of the nonprofit AuralVision. He said the concept came after seeing time-of-flight sensors being used to monitor supplies inside airport facilities. That observation led him to wonder whether similar sensors could help visually impaired people identify objects in their path.
Working alongside five engineering students, Marum helped develop a prototype that could detect nearby obstacles and communicate their location to users. The original design resembled a pair of smart glasses equipped with sensors and audio guidance features…