Navigation for visually impaired - leveraging ad hoc RF environmental sensing

Abstract

This demonstration focuses on sensing environmental parameters such as light, color, RF sources, temperature and audio to optimize mobile device performance, providing the user with an improved experience.There is growing interest in systems that provide services based on location awareness. This session uses a practical example, leveraging sensing capabilities adapted from common devices such as PDA's and mobile devices to assist vision-impaired users. The demonstration uses easily obtainable RF environmental data from non-registered devices to create the equivalent to visual landmarks, which are neither paid for nor maintained by the user, to estimate location and direction. Additionally, the user does not divulge any personal information related to registration in a system (such as cellular networks) and will often work indoors where GPS systems are typically non-operational. This demonstration is a launching point for environmental sensing that will ultimately improve mobile device usability in personal, industrial and medical applications.