Wayfinder- Navigation Tool for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Utah State University
posted on 08/27/2008

With an estimated 10 million people suffering from blindness or visual impairment in the US alone, a technology to assist in supporting their independence in navigation is in order. The Wayfinder, a multi-sensor navigation device developed by USU researchers, improves on existing approaches in that it works both outdoors and indoors. The Wayfinder not only localizes one’s position, but also provides directional guidance to a desired destination.

Suggested Uses

• Navigational assistance system at campuses, airports, convention centers, etc.
• Navigation system for automated or human transport in hospitals, factories, warehouses, etc.

Advantages

• Localizes position both indoors and outdoors, eliminating the need for two separate technologies
• Provides navigation information to user-selected destinations for increased mobility
• Can be worn on user or incorporated into mobility device for greater convenience

Innovation Details

Detailed Description

Sensor data are collected in the target environment at installation time. At run time, a computer interfaced to the sensors employs decision processing to determine location. The user can have the ability to input requests for directions to a new location. The current location of the user can be output to the user as well as directions to a desired location.

File Number: W05018

Web site: http://tco.usu.edu/

IP Protection