The white cane (and its many variants) is a daily carry-on item for many visually impaired people. This low-tech tool allows visually impaired people to safely browse the world around them, and has been ubiquitous in many parts of the world for decades. [Madaeon] Have been working hard and have gone a step further in prototyping Open source auxiliary wearable device This may be helpful in situations where a cane is impractical or impractical.
TOF wristband V2 reminds the wearer of nearby obstacles through vibration, and can detect objects 4 meters away. As the wearer gets closer to the obstacle, the frequency of vibration will increase. The time-of-flight distance sensor is controlled by Feather, and the entire system is powered by a small lithium polymer battery. The prototype consists of only four components and a 3D printed case and bracelet, which inevitably reduces cost and complexity.
The second edition of the project started where the first edition stopped. In that project, [Madaeon] Mentioned the possibility of compressing this project to the size of a ring. Perhaps with better battery technology, a ring-sized sensor may one day appear.
This is not the first wearable device to help the visually impaired. As early as 2019, we reported on a laser-enhanced glove that tried very similar.
go through Some estimates, Nearly 1 billion people around the world have some degree of visual impairment. Auxiliary devices such as TOF wristband V2 and other similar devices provide these people with the potential to increase independence and improve living standards.