Augmented reality for the blind

Scientists from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) have developed a technology based on augmented reality that allows the blind to improve their independence. The advance is named after and represents a major innovation in the field of typhlotechnology.

How augmented reality can improve the autonomy of blind people

Spanish researchers have used augmented reality to create It is a technology that allows creating a virtual map of interior spaces, which is transmitted to the blind person through the mobile phone, making it not depend solely on the cane or the ear to know your surroundings.

The application of is not limited to the home, as it can also be developed in the work environment. It is achieved, in this way, thatthrough augmented reality the autonomy of blind people at work is facilitated and increase your productivity. Other possible options are lodging places, shopping centers, or transportation vehicles such as the train.

How Augmented Reality Worksfrom

The system presented by Spanish scientists seeks to adapt technological advances so that they can be used by people with blindness or visual impairment. It is for this reason that the study embarks on typhlotechnology, which is the science that studies the techniques and resources necessary to improve the integration of the blind.

This is an interesting innovation that provides a friendly interface for blind people when it comes to knowing the environment in which they are. Its operation is based on offering information on the location and status of objects in the surroundings through the mobile phone.

After various experiments,Augmented reality has been shown to make the environment easier to understandr and that, therefore, you can have better mobility. New technologies allow communication to be faster and easier for the user to grasp and, in this way, its performance can be improved in different environments.

Future of augmented reality

Although it has demonstrated its great application possibilities, it is currently still in the development phase and it will be necessary to wait a few years to be able to see this implemented.augmented reality application at the service of the blind. On the project website, the help that this tiflotechnical system supposes when reporting physical events that take place in the environment to people with vision problems is emphasized. Focused on the workplace, the experts hope to be able to perfect their invention with a group of blind volunteers who advise on the operation of the tool before launching it on the market.

Other examples of augmented reality applied to the blind

In addition to the program promoted by the UPM, other universities in the rest of the world are developingtechnologies based on augmented reality to improve the lives of the blind.One of the most interesting studies is that carried out by Philip Torr and Stephen Hicks (both of Oxford). These scientists have created smart glasses, which detect a person's visual deficiencies and adjust the image to improve their vision.

This innovation is possible thanks to cameras that collect information about the scene in front and to a complex system of algorithms that analyzes the data received by the viewers. The exaggeration of certain details or the enhancement of the contrast manage to highlight the obstacles and that the user sees their vision significantly improved.

Augmented reality can be used in typhlotechnology and help people with vision deficits to have a better perception of the environment. This is a breakthrough that will allow the blind to have greater autonomy and that helps facilitate their foray into the labor market. He offers you the possibility of taking care of yourself thanks to the extensive medical and hospital team that you have at your disposal.