MEXICO: Smart glasses could help the blind navigate

Record ID: 307707

  • Title: MEXICO: Smart glasses could help the blind navigate
  • Date: 15th September 2014
  • Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VISUALLY-IMPAIRED PERSON WALKING IN STREET PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC LIGHT AT CROSSING VARIOUS OF VISUALLY-IMPAIRED PERSON CROSSING STREET VARIOUS OF VISUALLY-IMPAIRED PEOPLE ON FOOTPATH GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, MEXICO (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND ADVANCED STUDIES (CINVESTAV) VARIOUS OF RESEARCH TEAM IN LAB VARIOUS OF COMPUTER ANIMATION OF "SMART GUIDE" GLASSES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RESEARCHER BEHIND GLASSES, ALFONSO ROJAS DOMINGUEZ, SAYING: "The "Smart Guide" project is trying to develop intelligent glasses to help visually-impaired people in their everyday lives such as chores, recognising documents, recognising tickets, colours, and also to help them with their mobility, recognising obstacles, directions to get to their destination via GPS, ultrasonic sensors and via a pair of cameras that process images through the lenses." MORE OF RESEARCH TEAM IN LAB VARIOUS OF RESEARCH BUILDING GLASSES MORE OF RESEARCH TEAM IN LAB (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROJECT LEADER BEHIND GLASSES, EDUARDO BAYRO-CORROCHANO, SAYING: "Google glasses are for those who can see while this is (like) Google glasses orientated to those who are visually-impaired and those who have no sight and who have many routines in 'matching learning' which Google glasses don't have." GLASSES ATTACHED TO COMPUTER VARIOUS OF COMPUTER CONNECTED TO GLASSES IDENTIFYING DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS OF MONEY, PAMPHLETS AND SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROJECT LEADER BEHIND GLASSES, EDUARDO BAYRO-CORROCHANO, SAYING: "We're looking at a price between $1,000 to $1,500 dollars but understand that we're limited by the technology. We don't just want to make a product to enrich ourselves, but reach a middle ground that serves society, but on the other hand, covers the costs of the development. We have to be realistic, the technology does not allow for the product to fall under $500 dollars." VARIOUS OF WOMAN USING GLASSES
  • Embargoed: 30th September 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAFMD8GTISMMHL3GWVSYADAS93
  • Story Text: A pair of "artificial intelligence" glasses could help blind people navigate an unfamiliar environment by combining ultrasound technology, sound sensors and GPS guides, according to researchers in Mexico.
    At the Centre for Research and Advanced Studies in Guadalajara, a team of researchers has developed stereoscopic vision lenses designed for people who are blind or with low vision.
    The idea is to turn the traditional pair of glasses into a navigation device to allow users to freely move from a specific point while avoiding both static and moving obstacles.
    "The 'Smart Guide' project is trying to develop intelligent glasses to help visually-impaired people in their everyday lives such as chores, recognising documents, recognising tickets, colours, and also to help them with their mobility, recognising obstacles, directions to get to their destination via GPS, ultrasonic sensors and via a pair of cameras that process images through the lenses," said Alfonso Rojas Dominguez, researcher behind the invention.
    Similar "smart" glasses have already been developed, but what sets these Mexican-made lenses apart is their use of ultrasound technology to detect translucent objects, making the device ideal for the visually-impaired.
    "Google glasses are for those who can see while this is (like) Google glasses orientated to those who are visually-impaired and those who have no sight and who have many routines in 'matching learning' which Google glasses don't have," said Eduardo Bayro-Corrochano, project leader behind the glasses.
    Bouncing ultrasonic waves off surrounding objects, the technology can also read different colours and writing on different objects that could distinguish between different paper bills and street signs.
    Using a battery that lasts around four hours, the information from the glasses is converted into a voice message via a tablet computer.
    But with five years in development and using sophisticated technology, the invention is not expected to be cheap when it comes on the market.
    "We're looking at a price between $1,000 to $1,500 dollars (USD) but understand that we're limited by the technology. We don't want to make just a product to enrich ourselves, but reach a middle ground that serves society but on the other cover the costs of this development. But we have to be realistic, the technology does not allow for the product to fall under $500 dollars," added Bayro-Corrochano.
    Although still a prototype, the "smart" glasses already have two patents at the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property and had received $1.7 million funding from the country's National Council for Science and Technology for its development.
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