Is it put for exhibition or demonstration at any place. Can someone write a review on its functionality and functioning? I'd like to know how the vibrations help visually challenged in different situations.
On 3/31/14, Rahul Gambhir <rahul.gambhi...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hello Friends > Sharing the news for launch of much awated mobility device. > > A ‘smart cane’ for the visually impaired > Navadha Pandey > > New Delhi, March 31: > > After smartphones and smartcards, here comes the SmartCane – a > home-grown, affordable electronic device for the visually impaired. > > The ultrasonic device, launched by IIT Delhi on Monday, can be fixed > on the top fold of the white cane to detect obstacles above knee-level > at a distance ranging from one metre to three metres. Its carrier is > alerted by different vibratory patterns. > > Under the institute’s Assistive Technologies Group (ASSISTech), the > electronic mobility aid for the visually impaired was developed > jointly with Saksham Trust and Chennai-based Phoenix Medical Systems, > with ₹3-crore funding from Wellcome Trust of the UK. > > The product’s USP is its low cost of ₹3,000, inclusive of training and > distribution costs. IIT Delhi Director R K Shevgaonkar said, “This > product is an example of India-centric research in terms of > affordability and what the society needs. The cost of this product is > one-tenth of similar devices available in the international market.” > > Rohan Paul, an IIT Delhi alumnus whose team is behind the product, > said, “this has been a nine-year-long journey. The project started out > as a course under Prof Balasubramaniam at IIT Delhi. Dipendra Manocha, > Director of Saksham Trust and Delhi-President of National Association > of Blind, highlighted the need for mobility, which is a fundamental > need, and the fact that there has been no innovation in this field for > so long. ” > > The technology was then transferred from IIT Delhi to Chennai-based > Phoenix Medical Systems for just Re 1. Phoenix is responsible for > manufacturing the device. > > On how the team managed to keep the cost so low, Paul said, “You begin > with affordability as a goal. Use low-cost electronics, easy sensors, > no fancy vibrations and look at lifecycle cost. The product should be > high-quality and should not break for five years, and its repair costs > should be low. Then, you highlight the product within the research > community to ensure that the production cost is borne by the State or > philanthropy.” > > Chirag Gambhir, a second year student at Sri Venakteswara College, > Delhi University, said, “My brother has been using the SmartCane for > some time now. Because the technology is simple, one can easily switch > from the white cane to SmartCane.” > > Meanwhile, the Government has started procurement of the device. Paul > said around 1,000 units had been ordered under the Scheme of > Assistance to Disabled Persons under the Ministry of Social Justice > and Empowerment. “Apart from this, we have 20 community partners in 10 > states for dissemination of these canes. With their feedback, we will > start scaling up,” he added. > > According to the World Health Organisation, 285 million people are > estimated to be visually impaired worldwide, with 90 per cent in > developing countries. India is home for 12 million people with > blindness, the largest for any country in the world (2011 census > data). > > (This article was published on March 31, 2014) > > Source: > http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/smartbuy/a-smart-cane-for-the-visually-impaired/article5855335.ece > > With Best Regards > Rahul Gambhir > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > -- G. Vamshi Mobile: +91 9949349497 Skype: gvamshi81 www.retinaindia.org From darkness unto light Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
