Portable Radar for Visually Impaired Individuals

People who have lost some or all of their vision find it challenging to navigate independently without external assistance. Family and friends may not always be present, and guide dogs are not as common. However, modern technologies are stepping in to address this issue! The Technical Research Center in Finland, VTT, is developing a wearable assistive device for visually impaired individuals called GuideSense.

About the Project

This device allows individuals to "sense" their surroundings and move more safely. GuideSense operates on VTT's radar system technology, resembling a heart rate monitor in appearance.

Tero Kiuru, a senior research scientist at VTT, states: "One of the main advantages of our development is the support for millimeter-wave radio waves, allowing the device to be discreetly worn – for example, under a coat." The radar transmits information to the user through voice messages or vibrations. At present, it accurately detects most obstacles a person may encounter, although some challenges arise with small objects like bushes, thin branches, etc. Natural occurrences such as snow, fog, or rain do not hinder the system's normal operation.

Practical Research

The research center conducted the first phase of GuideSense trials involving 25 participants – 14 entirely blind, 7 visually impaired, and 4 individuals who were both deaf and blind. 92% of volunteers claim that the device helped them better perceive their environment; 80% believe it enables independent movement; 32% expressed readiness to start using the device in its current form.

Main concerns revolve around remote control and vibration quality. The team behind GuideSense promises to continue their work and development. Indeed, there is a significant potential, considering there are at least 300 million people globally with weak or no vision.