sense - my Ears and Eyes

sense, SONAR WITH HAPTIC FEEDBACK

sense, is a simple solution for the visually impaired designed to improve their mobility. It is a technology that helps them to move with more confidence and to avoid colliding with obstacles.

sense is a wearable device that signals the presence of obstacles by providing haptic feedback that can be felt and interpreted by the visually impaired. sense scans in the direction of motion and from above the cane to the maximum body height.

An external haptic actuator with a long supple cable can be worn on the body to enhance the haptic feedback.

sense has been developed and optimized with the participation of visually impaired people and is designed to meet their particular needs.

NEEDS OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

WHERE • WHEN • HOW • WHY • OUTLOOK

We help the visually impaired using miniaturized, portable sensors and with tactile feedback, generally so-called wearables, to recognize objects and obstacles and to do this anywhere and at any time:

at work,
at home,
in the public, and
in unknown and changeable areas.

sense early recognizes obstacles in the direction of motion and informs about the presence of obstacles as distance information even before the white cane or the sensitive ear and other senses recognize any objects. This feature makes sense an indispensable addition to the mobility and safety of the visually impaired.

Later versions will inform about the object pattern while walking and allow precise, sharp and speedy detail information.

Adjusting the haptic language to the respective needs is an essential feature of the usability of these devices. Hearing remains as a sense completely free separate sense and is not used for signaling, which the visually impaired find very important.

WE UNDERSTAND YOUR PROBLEM

SOLUTION • EQUIPMENT • CONSTRAINTS • TOOLS

Our solution covers the device outlined below and the tools you need.

SENSORS

We use an ultrasonic sonar as a main sensor. It has about 10-15 ° tracking angle and provides accurate distance information from 1 – 10 m. A small disadvantage of the sonar is its size. Sensors based on Doppler effects only provide distances and no images. Images patterns are created by scanning the environment and dynamic assembly.

IMPROVEMENT OF THE WHITE CANE

sense provides visually impaired people with an increase in mobility in conjunction with the white cane. Objects that are unrecognizable with the cane because they have, for example, no flush ground contact or are too far ahead, are now recognized properly.

With it’s external vibrator on a flexible, supple cable, the haptic feedback can be worn directly on to the body. sense can then also be attached directly on the white cane, provided the cane movement is slow (cycle > 5s) and in a small scan angle (10-20°).

HAPTIC LANGUAGE

sense has implemented a haptic language similar to smart watches. The vibration actuator is a vibrating motor. We have planned two steps for sense.

Version: Frequency or blanking time as a measure of distance and a simple short vibration as a signal.
Version: additionally a coded signal for the recognition of objects in the manner of a Morse code paired with signal intensity and fade in / out.

DETECTION OF OBJECTS

The first version of sense only detects objects in the direction of the scan. A later, second version will recognize typical objects based on the scan and the reflection pattern and will assemble scanning and motion together to form a pictorial interpretation.

We assume that this second version require only a software update. In this version sense will still be an independent and communicationless device.

ADJUSTMENT AND INTENSITY

sense adapts to the sampling rate of the measured distance and also to the users temperature parameter.

Haptic signals have different characteristics in terms of signal shape and density. People have a specific capacity and have individual preferences. This can be adjusted in speed and intensity by the user, using an integrated touch input device.

Later versions allow this features to be configured as a preset via micro-USB.

ALL DAY USABILITY

sense is designed for use in buildings and outside. The suitability for everyday use is largely due to the learning ability of the visually impaired, as one sometimes needs to transfer one’s attention from the white cane on to sense. It takes a training phase to be familiar with sense and to trust the device.

PRECISE, SHARP, SPEED

While in the first version only a sonar is used, the further versions use an already built-in 4 m class 1 laser and an accelerometer. Information from all 3 sensors will be integrated in version 2 to provide object recognition and precise, sharp, fast distance measurements.

INTERFACES

sense is completely sealed and provides only a micro-USB port, through which the device can be charged via a standard USB adapter and can support an optional external haptic actuator.

UPDATES, PARAMETER SETTINGS

sense updates to version 2, synchronizations and parameter settings can be made by a web browser and the micro-USB interface and a standard USB cable.

EXCELLENT PRODUCT.

sense VERSION 1 REQUIREMENTS

STANDALONE • WEARABLE • SAFE DETECTION • ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

sense version 1 is a standalone device which interprets the presence and some type of obstacles into tactile haptic serial feedback felt by the visually impaired.

It recognizes safely, regardless of the time of day and the weather conditions, objects that come above the cane with a range of 10 m in the direction of motion. Here it is helpful if the wearer scans ahead by moving sense slightly left-right.

USE WITH THE WHITE CANE

sense is first intended to use with the white cane. It scans the a range of 1-10 m ahead for objects above the white cane. If there is no object, sense will not deliver a signal (depending on users adjustment).

OBJECT DETECTION 1-10 M

The sonar recognized obstacles with a scan angle (diffusion, resp. precision) of 10-15° and a range of 1 – 10 m. Left-right movements gives additional security about the environment. The object recognition happens about 4 times per second to generate an altered haptic signal. That’s also the the fastest haptic signal frame for less than 1 meter. 10 m and maximum slow adjustment (±50%) is one signal in a 4.2 seconds frame.

WALKING SPEED

The approximated walking speed for the proper processing of signal is 5 km/h = 1.38 m/s. The typical unadjusted sense signal is between 0.282 and 2.82 seconds frame (1-10 m) and is about 40% of the walking distance and provides much security.

Sudden objects in the direction of motion are at the worst case recognizable by the visually impaired within 2 frames = 0.564 seconds. The recognition limit of signals here is not the device but the haptic sensibility and awareness of the person who carries sense.

INCONSPICUOUS, WEARABLE DESIGN

sense is small and can be mounted on the white cane, worn on the arm as a bracelet like a watch or on the upper arm, on the forehead or on the chest. The haptic actuator is built-in or can also be worn alternatively via a cable outside the device (optional accessory) on the skin (chest, neck, shoulder, under your clock) or like an earring. A DIY kit will also be provided.

STRESS-REDUCTION BY HAPTIC SIGNALING

We have worked closely with visually impaired people. One of the basic statements was that the ear as a sensory organ should NOT be disturbed by the object recognition. We did that in comparison to our predecessors and competitors and developed the haptic language.

ENERGY CONSUMPTION, BATTERY LIFE

The energy balance is strongly influenced by the scanning frequency, i.e. the adaptation to the density of objects and especially their haptic output. sense is fully usable for more than 1 day and can be fully charged in about 1 h.

CHEAP, ROBUST DESIGN

sense is protected against splashing water, suitable with various mounting options, equipped with a robust housing and with a micro-USB adapter, and thus extremely suitable for everyday use. The device is cheap and affordable to use as basic equipment for the visually impaired.

Checkout: Flyer, Flyer tagged for download.

UTILIZATION

DEEP • INTELLIGENT • COMPLETE • ELEGANT • EMOTIVE

sense has few features, but it is a unique device for the detection of objects for the visually impaired.
The white cane detects obstacles and floor surfaces very selective and sensitive the range of 1-2 m and below your knees.
sense detects obstacles a range of 1-10 m and the whole body height in the direction of motion but with much lesser selective and sensitive capabilities.

MOBILITY

sense gives visually impaired people an increase in mobility that was previously not possible alongside traditional devices. While sense can also be used without the white cane in the short range (<10 m), however the resolution of the scan with the white cane in the near range (<2 m, e.g. stairs, surface texture) is unreachable.

IMPROVEMENT OF THE WHITE CANE

sense provides visually impaired people with an increase in mobility in connection with the blind cane. The detection of objects that were previously unrecognizable with the white cane, as they have, for example, no flush ground contact, are now recognized properly.

EARLY RECOGNITION

sense early recognizes the path obstructing objects, even before the blind stick or the sensitive ear and other senses recognize any objects. This feature makes sense an indispensable addition to the mobility and safety of the visually impaired.

NORMAL WALK SPEED

sense allows the detection of objects on the path of the visually impaired at walking speed and beyond. The limit here is not the device, but the haptic sensitivity and the ability of people to react, to process dense haptic taktile signals.

ADJUSTABLE BEHAVIOR

Haptic signals have different characteristics in terms of signal shape and density. People have a specific capacity and have individual preferences. Basically, signals can be configured via the web (via Micro-USB), and these can be personally adjusted and tuned in terms of signal density during use anytime.

HAPTIC TAKTILE FEEDBACK

Spending the distance and later also the object nature haptically frees the visually impaired to influence other senses. Haptic is built into the device itself (sense as a headband or bracelet) or can be worn over an extremely flexible supple cable on the body (earring, jewelry with clip or over the shoulder at the neck, back).

ALL DAY USABILITY

sense is suitable to be used in buildings and outside in all places. The suitability for everyday use is largely due to the learning ability of the visually impaired, as one sometimes needs to transfer the priority of the blind cane on to sense. It takes a training phase to be familiar with sense and to trust the device.

MOUNTABLE AT WHITE CANE

With haptic, an extreme flexible, supple cable, the haptic feedback can be carried away from the device directly on to the body. Thus, sense can also be attached directly to the white cane.

You will receive the device from our partners, organizations and our shop in the future.

AVAILABILITY

sense is usable anywhere and available anytime. You yourself can determine the frequency, intensity and thus the energy consumption. You decide how to use it.

VERIFIED, CONFIRMED

Organizations in the D-A-CH region and other EU countries have tested the device and find significant benefits to visually impaired people in conjunction with the white cane.

PERSONAL

sense is probably the most personal device you’ve ever purchased. It requires some familiarization before you can use it in your daily life. But once used you will not miss it.

CONFIDENCE

The security that sense gives you in your new mobility is a balance of opportunity, trial, and insight. This leads to confidence in the device.
Try it !