Helps come for visually challenged in the form of smart cane

Filed in archive Implementation on August 6, 2009

For a visually challenged person it's not easy to deal with the hurdles presented by the world to him but RFID technology intends to make this journey easier if not trouble free. Students at Central Michigan University have developed a smart cane which would enable them to conduct themselves a bit better. This RFID smart cane enables blind people to identify hindrances on the path and helps in navigation too.

An ultrasonic senor is fitted to it which works in sync with navigational system kept inside a bag worn by users so that RFID tags attached to flags sticking out of the ground can be easily detected.

A speaker is attached on the strap of the bag which alerts the user in case of any obstacle and guides him. For people suffering from hearing impairment a vibrating glove has been designed which vibrates different fingertips in order to offer navigational directions. One limitation is in terms of use of RFID flags all along the path but I feel this project is a stepping stone towards the larger welfare of the visually challenged people.