With the help of technology, the blind and the visually impaired might finally be able to "see" the world a little bit better. As part of its ongoing programs in its robotics division, Japanese carmaker Toyota unveiled Project BLAID on Monday, a wearable device that has the potential to aid millions of visually impaired people worldwide.
According to the Japanese automobile giant, the goal behind the company's efforts is simple. Toyota wants to create a world where the blind and the visually impaired can enjoy life with more freedom, independence, confidence, and most of all, mobility.
Project BLAID is primarily designed to help visually impaired individuals navigate through everyday locations, such as the interior of buildings and vast shopping malls. Through a series of cameras and sensors on the device, BLAID is able to detect the presence of doors, escalators, pathways and even restroom signs.
Currently, buildings that are designed with the visually impaired in mind have beacons installed to help with navigation. Of course, some buildings have no such technology in place, leaving visually impaired individuals to navigate using instinct and experience alone.
The BLAID device definitely looks futuristic, resembling a sleek and portable travel pillow that slightly drapes around a person's shoulders. Once worn, the device would be controlled by the user through voice command and a series of dedicated buttons, with BLAID responding to the user's input through audio and haptic cues.
That, according to Toyota, is simply the beginning. As Toyota stated in its official blog, as the device gets even more refined, the company is planning to integrate a number of more advanced features such as mapping, object identification and even facial recognition software.
Doug Moore, a manager of Partner Robotics at Toyota, said that he is optimistic about the project. He further added that Project BLAID is a testament to just how much the company aims to enrich people's lives.
"Toyota is more than just the great cars and trucks we build; we believe we have a role to play in addressing mobility challenges, including helping people with limited mobility do more. We believe this project has the potential to enrich the lives of people who are blind and visually impaired," he said.
Of course, Project BLAID is still in its developmental stages. Toyota has also not announced the price range for the device. Nevertheless, the fact that such a prominent company such as Toyota is pursuing the endeavor is something that is definitely worthy of anticipation.
