A wearable guidance system with interactive user interface for persons with visual impairment

Abstract

We propose a wearable system that helps visually impaired persons to walk to their destination. After a destination is selected, our system computes an optimal path and guides the user with a marker position and its identifier detected by a camera (indoors) or positioning data from a GPS receiver (outdoors). Simultaneously, it utilizes multiple ultrasonic sensors to avoid obstacles lying in the path. In addition, we propose a fast correction algorithm to reduce the positioning error of GPS data and we deploy a map-matching algorithm when the user breaks away from the correct path. We evaluate spatial layout in front of the user on the basis of predefined patterns, and we determine the appropriate avoidance direction by analysing these patterns. The system safely guides a visually impaired person to the destination with interactive user interface.