New Robot Dog can be Re Purposed to Aid the Elderly & Disabled. Imagine Training one of these to protect your kids, carry your groceries, and Fetch the Mail. Imagine a Dog for the Blind that doesn't poop and never dies.

Robot Guide Dog for the Blind

No More "find the poop" for Blind owners trading in their Fury K-9 friends for a Rechargeable Guide Dog?

Vuzix Wrap 1200 glasses display 75-inch 2D/3D virtual screen

Vuzix Wrap 1200 glasses display 75-inch 2D/3D virtual screen

Vuzix has updated its line ofvideo eyewear with its sleekest and, at 852 x 480 pixels, highest-res model yet - the Vuzix Wrap 1200. Compatible with both 2D and 3D content, the glasses can display an equivalent of 75-inch screen as seen from a distance of 10 feet (3 m) and feature separate focus adjustment for each eye as well as adjustable eye distance and viewing angles. Read More

http://www.gizmag.com/vuzix-wrap-1200/19519/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=11e33a2e86-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email

US Currency Identification Apps for Sight Impaired

By Jeff Samco, Assistive Technology Advocate, FREED

I work as an assistive technology advocate at FREED, an Independent Living Center in Nevada City, California. I am also legally blind, so I use AT everyday in my life. Here is a quick overview of the "magical" apps I use on my iPhone 4.   

  Note: I do have a little useable vision for pointing a camera, although not enough to see what is on the screen, nor in the viewfinder. Also, I've only had the iPhone for 2 months. I solely use it via the built-in screen reader called VoiceOver. And, for those interested, I do not use it as a phone since I cannot afford the monthly service fee. Instead, I use it with apps that are entirely self-contained on the iPhone or those which work via a Wi-Fi connection such as I have at home, work and at some public venues.   

  US Currency Identification apps:    EyeNote, developed by the US Treasury, is a free application for your iDevice. I do applaud the US Treasury's effort to make US currency more identifiable for those who are blind or visually impaired. However, the implementation of the free EyeNote app falls significantly short in its performance compared to that of a previously-released commercial app by LookTell called Money Reader that costs $1.99. http://www.looktel.com/   

Here's my brief comparison of the two apps:    

The EyeNote snaps a picture which is then analyzed and, if successful, speaks the denomination. The bill needs to lie quite flat in adequate lighting to be recognized. If not recognized, the user needs to again snap another picture and wait the few seconds of processing time.   

 The Money Reader app uses a continuous video stream from the iDevice's camera and activates an iPhone 4's built-in flash if needed. Recognition takes less than a second. Bills can be quickly passed in front of the camera and identified one after another. It will recognize a bill when fully open, folded in half or less, flat or krinckled. It rarely cannot identify the bill.    And cameras can do more than identify money. oMoby object identification is a free app that requires data connection via Wi-Fi or cell. You snap a photo of an object such as a box or can of food, and the image is sent off over the Internet for comparison with a database of images. If a match is made, a short text description is returned and VoiceOver can speak it. If no match is made, the image is sent to a live human who views it and types in a short text description returned to the sender. I've had great success in identifying various food items in the kitchen. Of course, results are only as good as the photo image taken.  

Let's move on to GPS applications. The Navigon GPS app retails for around $70, but can be found on sale a couple times a year. I have quite a bit of experience with the Trekker Breeze (a handheld talking GPS device retailing for approximately $900) and will use it for comparison.    The Breeze: Very good with naming cross streets, distance to next turn, customizing walking routes and marking personalized locations. The Breeze's limitations include: It does not announce on which side of the street you will find your destination address, Points of Interest are limited, recalculating a route is slow, it comes with only one regional map (e.g., California only), it costs $75 to purchase maps for the entire U.S., and the Breeze is not so precise with vehicle directions.    Navigon: Certainly more limited with no ability to announce names of cross streets. Always tells the street name currently travelling, announces distance to and name of next turn, announces which side of the street destination address is on, includes all U.S. maps, and is much better with Points of Interest. The Navigon recalculates routes quickly and has better vehicle directions and information.    After using Navigon for a month now, I have found it to be adequate for my walking and driving needs (driving in the sense that I am the navigator for my wife).    And for the fitness minded, the iTreadMill walking pedometer app is only 99 cents and is self-contained on an iDevice. You can easily learn distance walked, current speed, average speed and number of steps, whether on a treadmill or out for a walk. The iTreadmill does not use GPS, but the motion sensor of the iDevice. Typically there is no way of getting information on a treadmill display other than viewing it.     I use non-AT apps, but these are the main ones that still amaze me for the added capabilities they add to my life.   What AT-related mobile device apps amaze you? 

Please share your thoughts in the comment box below.  
By Jeff Samco, Assistive Technology Advocate, FREED

James Christy

Your Technology Guide Dog

InterNet Communications Specialist

Since 1995

voice/text 949-336-2611

http://www.JamesChristy.com

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Low Vision and the Seasoned Citizen

Our older friends & relatives are entering a new and difficult season of life. A season that brings several new challenges. One challenge is the Loss of Vision brought on by one of 4 common causes.


The most common cause is Age Related Macular Degeneration or ARMD. ARMD results in loss of or impaired central vision. Macular degeneration causes blurred, distorted or dimmed vision and may cause a blind spot.


Another common cause of low vision is Glaucoma. Glaucoma is a progressive condition involving pressure and build-up of excess fluid in the eye. Glaucoma first impairs peripheral vision so that the world appears to be viewed through a tunnel.


Among many elderly Cataracts are a source of vision loss. Cataracts is a condition where one or both lenses which are normally clear, becomes cloudy.The condition develops slowly until vision becomes blurry and colors fade. Surgical removal is a very common and effective treatment.


Diabetic Retinopathy is another condition resulting from the damaging effects of diabetes. Inadequate circulation to the retina leads to changes in the tiny blood vessels and vision loss. Symptoms include blurriness,increased sensitivity to light or glare,changes in color vision and clouding of the vitreous.


There are many tools, gadgets and software to help those with low vision manage their daily life, When guiding an elderly person through choosing the best solutions, keep in mind that most people don’t like change and don’t want to admit they need help. So be sure to take extra time in choosing the right product.


Optical Devices for those with low vision may include: magnifiers, telescopes, prisms, monoculars, binoculars, microscopes,
closed circuit televisions and computers.


Hand held magnifiers are the easiest to use and the most cost effective.
When choosing a hand held magnifier be sure to start with the most powerful magnification and work your way down and since most of the causes of vision loss among the elderly include dimness of light, chose a magnifier that has a built in LED light. Hand held magnifiers are great because they are portable and can be used for many tasks, such as reading a menu at a restaurant or looking at a cellular phone keypad.


There are many computer programs to magnify the computer screen, but since most seniors don't have a computer, we'll discuss software in a future blog.


Let's look at another effective low vision device: Closed Circut TV or CCTV. CCTV's are specially designed to enlarge printed material for people who have low vision and can no longer comfortably use glasses or special lenses to read regular size print. CCTV's use a video camera that focuses on the printed page. The print is then enlarged and displayed on a monitor.


Most CCTV's have a bright downward facing light and the ability to change the contrast from black letters on a white page to white letters on a black page and several other color variations that are easily adjustable by the user.


CCTV's are useful in reading the mail, a prescription bottle label, read a phone number and looking at a picture and reading a book or newspaper. CCTV's are a HUGE help to those with low vision to continue to perform their normal daily functions.


If you'd like more information on Low Vision Devices or would like a personal demonstration. Contacet James Christy the Low Vision Specialist at 949-336-2611 or by email James@JamesChristy.com


Sight is a Gift