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On 1/26/11, Vamshi. G <gvamsh...@gmail.com> wrote: > Price of any product in the initial stage would be at the higher > level. And it may come down with time. Case is same with the repairs > and other aspects. > So, first let the product come to the market. > > -- > G. Vamshi > PH Res : +91 877-2243861 > Mobile: +91 9949349497 > E-mail ID: > gvamsh...@gmail.com > Skype: gvamshi81 > > www.retinaindia.org > From darkness unto light > > > > > > On 1/26/11, namdeo <jadhav.nam...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Price of the device can be 1 of the hindrances in popularizing the gadget. >> Presently, rs 100 is the price of the cane. You will need to pay 20 times >> more which would not be possible for everyone. If you happen to break or >> damage your cane, you can always spend another rs 100 and go for a new >> one. >> But here it would be difficult to afford another rs 2000 in case you need >> to >> purchase another sophisticated cane should you damage it. >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Vamshi. G" <gvamsh...@gmail.com> >> To: "accessindia" <accessindia@accessindia.org.in> >> Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 9:56 PM >> Subject: [AI] Enablers for the disabled >> >> >> http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDExLzAxLzIzI0FyMDI2MDA=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom >> >> Publication: The Times Of India Mumbai; Date: Jan 23, 2011; Section: >> Review; Page: 26 >> >> Mahafreed Irani >> >> Before you read any further, shut your eyes and then tie a blindfold >> over it. Now, try walking around your home without stubbing your toes >> on furniture or banging into walls. Frustrating, isn’t it? Imagine how >> much worse it would get if you had to navigate like this in unfamiliar >> territory. Well, more than 15 million visually impaired people – and >> that’s in India alone – live their lives in such darkness.Now, imagine >> what it would be like to wake up one day, and realise that your body >> refuses to co-operate with you. Simple tasks like changing a TV >> channel, or switching on the lights turn into tedious chores. Yet, >> millions of people from across the country – suffering from diseases >> such as muscular dystrophy and arthritis – live with these challenges >> everyday… >> >> Thankfully, there are a few techies out there who are working on >> gadgets that could help make the lives of these people slightly >> better… >> >> SMART CANE >> >> DEVELOPED BY: IIT-Delhi along with Phoenix Medical Systems Pvt Ltd >> WHAT DOES IT DO: Uses bat-like echolocation, and vibrating mechanism >> to guide blind users CURRENT STATUS: Preliminary tests successful; >> could be launched in India next year >> >> Four IIT-Delhi undergrads – in collaboration with Phoenix Medical >> Systems Pvt Ltd – have developed a Smart Cane that can sense obstacles >> up to three metres away. It accordingly vibrates to provide blind >> users with navigation cues. “Our Smart Cane also alerts users if a >> fast-moving object or person is moving towards them,” says Rohan Paul, >> who created the device along with Dheeraj Mehra, Vaibhav Singh, Ankush >> Garg. The technology is simple: The cane is equipped with an >> ultrasonic transducer and a vibrator. The former transmits >> high-pitched sound waves that get reflected from anything in front of >> it. Vibrations are then produced to give the blind person an >> indication that something lies ahead. “Our product will cost Rs 2,000 >> and we’ve already received calls from interested buyers in India, >> Kenya, Nepal and Pakistan,” says Paul. >> >> The cane – powered by a rechargeable Li-Ion battery – can be >> charged like a cellphone, making it convenient. “We carried out tests >> at an obstacle course specifically created for visually-impaired >> users,” Paul informs. “Tables, railings, necklevel horizontal bars and >> chairs were some of the obstacles that had to be avoided to complete >> the course. The collision rate was significantly reduced amongst the >> 30 users when they used the new cane. We are now working towards >> releasing it in the market by next year.” >> >> JELLOW DEVELOPED BY: IDC, IIT-Bombay WHAT DOES IT DO: Toy-like gadget >> helps children with cerebral palsy >> >> communicate needs and emotions CURRENT STATUS: Final stages of testing >> >> Jellow – equipped with six buttons that can be pressed, thumped >> and squeezed just like squishy jell-O – is a new gadget meant for a >> special category of children. Designed by the students at Industrial >> Design Centre (IDC), IIT-Bombay, the idea behind the “toy” is to help >> cerebral palsy kids communicate emotions. The buttons are placed on a >> circular disc, to make Jellow look like a toy, rather than a “complex >> and inhuman” thingamajig. “Allowing children with special needs to >> express their emotions remains an unaddressed area,” says Dhairya >> Dand, one of the student developers. “I believe in ‘humanizing >> technology’ where it becomes a natural extension of ourselves,” he >> adds. The basis of the product is what the developers call an >> Emotional Language Protocol (ELP). ELP, which works as Jellow’s >> interface, is driven by colour, shape, motion and sound; corresponding >> to the sensory modes of the visual, the tactile and the aural. In >> addition to this, a catalogue of everyday vocab—food, play, >> study—categorized hierarchically, has been built. If one taps on food, >> the subcategories of lunch, dinner and breakfast appear, and tapping >> on lunch further displays options like chapati, rice or dal. “The kid >> can also tap on any of the emotion buttons, which would help him >> express how he feels,” explains Dand. Jellow’s first prototype was >> built by students in 2007, under the guidance of IDC professor Ravi >> Poovaiah. And today, there are four versions: One as an iPad app, >> which capitalises on the touch interaction, the second as a dedicated >> touch-screen device, the third as an inexpensive accessory to the PC, >> and the fourth as a web version, which can be used from any computer >> without any additional hardware purchase. Jellow is now in its final >> stages of testing. Funded by the IDC, Jellow will stay open-source. >> The iPad app and web version are free while the base hardware cost of >> the touch device is around Rs 6,000. The computer accessory costs >> approximately Rs 150. >> >> BIONIC EYE PROJECT DEVELOPED BY: Doheny Retina Institute, USC WHAT >> DOES IT DO: Enables those suffering from Retinitis >> >> Pigmentosa to see STATUS: On the verge of clinical trials in India >> >> Boffins from the Doheny Retina Institute at the University of >> Southern California – along with US-based Second Sight Medical >> Products – are working on a bionic eye meant for the visually >> challenged suffering from a retinal disorder known as Retinitis >> Pigmentosa. >> >> The apparatus consists of a miniature camera mounted on a pair of >> glasses that sends images in the form of electrical signals to the >> portion of the retina that is not damaged by the disease. >> >> “The video camera processes the surroundings. This data is passed >> through a microprocessor that transfers it wirelessly to 60 electrodes >> implanted in the eye,” explains Rajat N Agrawal, an Indian >> ophthalmologist working on the project at the university. >> >> “These electrodes stimulate the retina to create a pattern, which >> the brain perceives as sight,” he adds. >> >> Agarwal, who plans on bringing the technology to India, is also >> the founder of non-profit Retina India, which is working with various >> government agencies to allow for clinical trials in the country. The >> handmade device, which takes about six months to fabricate, is likely >> to be cleared for sale in Europe soon. >> >> “Since the treatment costs anywhere between $50,000 to $1,00,000, >> Retina India will be working to help bring down the costs in the near >> term, and offer a cheaper device to Indian patients in the long term,” >> Agarwal says. >> >> ONBOARD DEVELOPED BY: IIT-Delhi WHAT DOES IT DO: Gadget uses radio >> signals to communicate with corresponding module on bus to inform the >> visually challenged of route CURRENT STATUS: Technology has been >> demonstrated to the BEST; real-world tests yet to be carried out >> >> OnBoard is a project from IIT-Delhi, where researchers are working >> towards a “talking bus”. Desperately seeking the support of public >> transport providers such as BEST and DTC, this invention could ensure >> that thousands of visuallyimpaired people have a safer commute >> everyday. >> >> The technology was invented after Dipendra Manocha – managing >> trustee of Saksham Trust that caters to the visuallyimpaired – told >> the students about the problems faced by the blind when using public >> transport. >> >> “Imagine you are a visually-challenged person trying to commute, >> but don’t know what bus has arrived at the stop that caters to 15 >> other routes,” Manocha said. >> >> So, undergrads Vaibhav Singh, Dheeraj Mehra, Rohan Paul and Ankush >> Garg – who have also worked on the Smart Cane – created a technology >> that allows the blind to board public transport independently. The >> system comprises two devices: A user module that is carried by the >> person and a bus module, which is installed at the entry of the >> vehicle. Once the user hears a bus approaching the stop, he or she >> presses the query button on the handheld device, which transmits a >> radio signal to the vehicle. The bus module then responds by >> transmitting its route number. Mumbai’s BEST has already looked into >> the technology, but is yet to conduct real-world tests. >> >> CePal DEVELOPED BY: Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and >> Communication Technology, Gandhinagar WHAT DOES IT DO: Infra-red, >> gesture-based remote control helps the motor-impaired, and those with >> limbrelated disorders to complete routine tasks such as operate a TV, >> AC, lights and fans CURRENT STATUS: Prototype development stage >> >> CePal – meant for the motor-impaired – is a gizmo, which can be >> worn like a watch and used to operate infra-red, remotecontrolled >> utilities such as TVs, ACs, and even lights and fans. >> >> Tilt CePal to the left and one can reduce the volume on a TV >> screen, tilt it upwards or downwards and the channels change. >> >> Created by students of Gandhinagar’s Dhirubhai >> >> Ambani Institute of Information and >> >> Communication Technology, CePal was developed by Sachin Garg, >> Mohit Maheshwari and Hitesh Sabnani under the mentorship of their >> professor Prabhat Ranjan in 2009. “At first, we thought of making a >> mouse, but then we realised that it’d be cooler if we could create >> something that would help the handicapped with routine tasks,” Garg >> says. There are a large number of people affected with cerebral palsy >> who may not use computers and this device is targeted at making them >> more self-reliant, he adds. But there’s one drawback: CePal – which is >> currently in the prototype development stage – has to be customised >> for each individual. “Every user has a different degree of control >> when it comes to movement,’’ Garg says, “and users have to spend >> enough time with our gizmo before they master its operations.” CePal, >> which costs around Rs 900, is currently designed to assist people who >> are partially handicapped, and those suffering from arthritis, >> paralysis or any other limb-related disorders. >> >> ADITI >> >> DEVELOPED BY: IIT-Madras WHAT DOES IT DO: Helps people with >> debilitating diseases – such cerebral palsy and severe >> >> muscular skeletal disorders – to communicate using simple gestures >> CURRENT STATUS: Prototype testing in India and South-east Asia; set >> for launch in February >> >> Many people – suffering from some debilitating disease or the >> other – are unable to communicate verbally or even gesture to indicate >> what they might require. Their option, therefore, is some sort of a >> screen-based device – which they have to always carry around – running >> software that provides them with visual options; whether it is to >> indicate an emotion, specify whether they are hungry or thirsty, or to >> make simple choices such as ‘yes’ or ‘no’. >> >> But then, there are those that can’t even move their fingers to >> click on the options… For these patients, researchers at IITMadras >> have created a new gizmo that lets them ‘click’ and communicate using >> simple gestures. >> >> Using ADITI, these patients can nod their heads, move their feet >> or simply shake their hands to generate a mouse click. >> >> An acronym for Analog Digital Theremin Interface, ADITI is an >> indigenous USB device that senses movement within a six-inch radius. >> And, when accompanied with communication software – generally in the >> form of a graphical, choice-based menu system – the device can prove >> to be a great boon for patients who suffer from severe muscular >> skeletal disorders. >> >> “ADITI enables people to choose from a list of alphabets, words or >> pictures to express themselves,’’ says Anil Prabhakar, the inventor of >> ADITI and professor at the department of electrical engineering, >> IIT-Madras. >> >> Set to launch by February this year, the device has already >> undergone three revisions. “We are in the process of field-testing a >> proto batch of 20 in India and the south-east Asia,’’ says Raja >> Shanmugam, CEO, Mindtree Foundation that supports ADITI. >> >> Ultrasonic Haptic Helmet >> >> DEVELOPED BY: Ahmedabad-based CU College of Engineering and Technology >> WHAT DOES IT DO: Helmet employs echolocation to “see” the >> surroundings; vibrates to provide “handsfree” navigational cues >> CURRENT STATUS: Work in progress >> >> Engineering student Dhyey Rawal and his classmates from >> Ahmedabad-based CU College of Engineering and Technology have created >> a lightweight helmet equipped with an ultrasonic “rangefinder” sensor >> that can sense objects in the vicinity. And, every time an obstacle is >> detected using the technology, motors in the helmet vibrate to alert >> the user about the direction he should take. >> >> The apparatus works like this: Six tiny micro-vibrators are >> mounted on the inner side of the headgear, with each of them covering >> an arc of 30 degrees. These vibrators take their cue from the >> rangefinder that rotates at the top of the helmet. >> >> Rawal, Jainam Shah and Manthan Shukla, all students of biomedical >> and instrumentation engineering visited the Blind People’s Association >> in Ahmedabad where they tested the apparatus. >> >> Ramji Bhai, a visuallyimpaired person who was involved in the >> testing – and pictured with Rawal (top) – says: “My hands were free >> this helmet. I could board a bus easily and pick too. It made things a >> bit easier...” >> >> After user feedback, the helmet was work in accordance to the >> rules of the white >> >> “We want to get a R&D company to support can make sure that our >> haptic helmet is actual product,” Rawal says. “It is a simple, an >> easy-to-operate device. Also, switching cane to the headgear can be >> quite seamless as use the same principles,” he says. >> >> The helmet is powered by two 9V batteries day, a micro sensor and >> a reprogrammable creators intend to develop it further so that it >> detect speed-breakers and potholes. >> >> vOICe DEVELOPED BY: Dutch scientist Peter Meijer WHAT DOES IT DO: >> Software enables the blind to “see” by converting visuals into a >> ‘soundscape’ CURRENT STATUS: Downloadable software available at >> www.seeingwithsound.com >> >> Pranav Lal uses his ears to ‘read’ visual cues while commuting in >> and around Delhi. Visually impaired since birth, the 31-year-old >> information security consultant uses a pair of headphones to listen to >> what you and me might mistake for meaningless jumble of sounds. But >> for Lal, these sounds paint a picture of his surroundings. >> >> The apparatus that helps this B-school graduate “see” also >> comprises a pair of ‘Made in China’ eye glasses that are equipped with >> a mini camera, capable of capturing images in real-time, and a netbook >> equipped with a software called vOICe (where OIC stands for Oh, I >> see). >> >> The camera feed is sent to the netbook after which the >> free-off-the-internet software converts those images into sounds. >> >> “The higher the object, the higher the pitch of the sound; the >> brighter the object, the louder the sound, and so on and so forth,” >> Lal reveals. >> >> He uses vOICe when he’s in a car, “to see the trees outside” or >> when he’s at the beach “to see the waves play with the rising sun and >> rocks”. >> >> With the software – which has been designed by Dutch scientist >> Peter Meijer – Lal can perceive the environment around him without >> having to “grope for items or follow the wall”. >> >> The application works on Android and Symbian phones too, making it >> portable for long-distance travel. Lal is a photo-enthusiast and takes >> pictures using vOICe to help him align himself in front of the object >> he wants to capture. “I can now even access art as the software has a >> colour recognizer,’’ he says. >> >> But making sense of the soundscape is not easy, he adds. “It will >> take some amount of practice to actually be able to benefit from the >> technology.” >> >> >> -- >> G. Vamshi >> PH Res : +91 877-2243861 >> Mobile: +91 9949349497 >> E-mail ID: >> gvamsh...@gmail.com >> Skype: gvamshi81 >> >> www.retinaindia.org >> From darkness unto light >> >> >> >> > > -- Ajay Minocha Mob : +91 - 7 8 2 7 1 8 8 4 5 5 E mail : ajayminocha2...@rediffmail.com ajaymanu...@gmail.com
