By Neelabja Adkuloo
Wearable technology extends far beyond the convenience of bringing our latest notifications to our attention quickly or keeping track of our physical activities. Three entrepreneurial engineers from the Tec de Monterrey Institute in Mexico have proven this by creating a smartwatch that could transform how people deal with a range of challenges brought on by vision disabilities.
Dubbed as the “Fitbit for the blind”, the Sunu Band is a wrist-worn device that uses ultrasonic technology to provide feedback to its wearer about their surroundings. It can also indicate the time with its discrete vibrational watch feature. Additionally, it helps retrieve lost and misplaced personal items, given that the user had clipped the lost object with Sunu Tag.
How does the device work?
Based on an echo system, as used by animals such as bats and dolphins, the Sunu Band bracelet emits high-frequency sound waves that bounce after hitting an object, before recording these waves with a proximity sensor and calculating the distance. The bracelet then sends this information to the wearer using vibrations, which increase in frequency the closer the wearer gets to the object.
The entrepreneurs behind the design, Fernando Albertorio (who is legally blind), Marco Trujillo, and Cuauhtli Padilla, have also developed a tag to go with the bracelet that locates lost objects. The wearer can place the tag on an object, such as keys, and the tag will communicate the location of the object to the wearer via Bluetooth. The bracelet will receive the information and through vibrations and it will indicate to the user the distance between them and the object.
An outdoor mode can detect obstacles up to 13 feet away. It will pick up anything from just above the knee to head level, detecting everything from a trash can to a hanging tree branch. Its indoor mode works on a shorter 8-feet-range and is better suited to navigating in more constrained spaces such as supermarket aisles or in crowded spaces.
Limitations posed by the watch
The Sunu Band cannot be used for detecting stairways and slippery surfaces. In addition, one cannot rely on the bracelet to cross streets or any intersection where there is vehicular traffic.
Interference makes the band vibrate continuously and it may become unresponsive. If experiencing this interference, the wearer must stop use until in an area free from interference. Moreover, the device is not waterproof. In case it gets wets, the user should allow it to dry before continuing use.
Perhaps the biggest blow is the price of the product. The wristband is available for $299, which is about Rs 19,000. It needs to be cheaper to have a wider impact.
Other innovations to aid the visually impaired
A growing number of wearables are looking to improve the lives of those dealing with vision impairment. One such gadget is the BuzzClip. It was invented in August 2014 by a Canadian company named iMerciv. The device uses ultrasound to detect the objects around the wearer, alerting them of potential obstacles through vibrations. As one gets closer to the objects, the frequency and intensity of the vibrations increase. The wearer can select the range according to their preference. Users can also clip more than one BuzzClip at a time onto their clothing, to receive even more information about their surroundings, and protect all sides of the body from possible collisions.
Another technology is the Dot watch, based out of South Korea. Compatible with both iOS and Android devices, the braille smartwatch allows the blind to check not only the time but also messages when connected to a mobile device. The display is made of 24 touch sensors and utilizes electro-dynamic cells to relay information. With the help of those sensors, the device knows when the finger of the user reaches the last letter on the display and instantly refreshes the screen with new letters. The watch can also display notifications from social media, directions and other customizable information with the help of an app that pairs certain applications with the device.
The number of visually impaired people in India is estimated to be around 1.2 crores and about 3.9 crores worldwide. The advent of wearable technology has provided a breakthrough in the way assistive tech is able to shape and enhance the mobility of the blind. The latest game changer in this domain, the Sunu watch, has tremendous potential to make life easier for the sightless.
Featured Image Source: Sunu.io
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