A group of researchers at Google Research has done a new project they have been working on that uses Artificial Intelligence technology for helping a blind person to follow a path without any assistance.
Google is an American multinational technology company focused on technologies, cloud computing, hardware, software, and search engine. The project called Project Guideline, they introduce Guiding Eyes for the Blind by Thomas Panek, President & CEO of an organization. The Goggle Research team credits Panek with an idea for the new technology as well as for guiding the project. Group developed a smartphone connected to the web and bone-conducting headphones.
The team developed a smartphone connected to the web and bone-conducting headphones. A smartphone is connected to the waist, which is used to look for a yellow line, that is painted to serve as a guideline. Information is sent from phone to AI app on Google server and it is processed and sends back signals to phone.
Then it is converted into audio tones played in the ears of a runner, so if the runner moves too far to the left the tone will grow louder in the left ear and o the right ear if the runner veers right. The software can track the painted line even if the runner was bouncing up and down as well as needed to adjust to changing light conditions or unexpected events, like leaves partially covering a line.
As the project has released, Panek has assisted as a testing agent as well as technology has improved he, moved from walking a course in a small gymnasium to running in an outdoor place. The next test involves taking part in NYRR’s Virtual Run for Thanks 5K using a line painted briefly on a path in New York’s Central Park. The project includes other blind runners who are willing to test the new technology.
The Google research team plans to continue the work and see whether their new technology might be useful for the broader blind community. That helps the blind to move around freely in the real environment.
