By BBC Online: Page last updated at 00:11 GMT, Saturday, 3 July 2010 01:11 UK
The scientists first equipped a beach buggy with non visual aids US Scientists and the National Federation of the Blind are developing a car for the blind and will present a prototype next year.
The vehicle will be fitted with technology that allows a blind person to drive independently, the NFB and Virginia Tech University said.
Non-visual aids include sensors indicating turns in the road via vibrating gloves.
Puffs of compressed air on the face will alert the driver to obstacles.
Other aids to be fitted include a vibrating vest to give feedback on speed and a steering wheel with audio cues and spoken commands indicating the car's direction.
Exploration Last year Virginia Tech turned a beach buggy into an experimental vehicle for blind drivers.
They used sensor lasers and cameras to act as the eyes of the buggy.
Continue reading the main story
Marc Maurer NFB presidentWe're moving away from the theory that blindness ends the capacity of human beings to make contributions to society
The model to be presented next year will be a modified Ford Escape sport utility vehicle, the NFB announced.
"We're exploring areas that have previously been regarded as unexplorable," said NFB president Marc Maurer.
He added that projects like this car was changing people's perception of the blind.
"We're moving away "from the theory that blindness ends the capacity of human beings to make contributions to society".
Mr Maurer said he started talking about a car for blind drivers ten years ago.
"Some people thought I was crazy," he said.
The prototype is expected be be publicly tested by a blind driver on the Daytona race track in Florida next January.
PET+BLOGSPOT is the official online blog of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive). Our contents are ACCURATE, RELIABLE and THE LATEST. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then is 40,000 hits and counting. PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my
No comments:
Post a Comment