Performance analysis of wireless warning device for upper body level of deaf-blind person

Abstract

For blind people, it is generally very hard if not impossible to notice the obstacles which exist around them except by touching the objects and by hearing the information from around them. Especially the obstruction which is existed at upper level of body. The issue becomes more severe when a blind person also has multiple sensory problems such as impaired hearing. Conventionally, they rely on white canes or guide dogs to assist them in order to reach their desired destination safely. However, the conventional method is beneficial only if the obstructions are existed at below level of body. They could not sense and hear the surrounding and cannot recognize their locations. It is very hard for them to travel independently from one destination to another without the proper navigation tools. In this paper, the performance analyses of a wireless vibration warning device in order to sense the obstructions at upper level of body for deaf-blind people is described. Four pieces of vibrator are used in order to give warning signals when obstacles are detected by ultrasonic sensors which are mounted to detect the obstacle at four directions such as front, down, left and right. From the experiment which is conducted, the configuration of the vibrators in order to warn the user when the obstacles are detected is confirmed. The location and the response of the user are acquired from the experiment which has been done. By using the developed wireless vibration warning device, the upper body level obstacles can be detected without touching the object and the effective wireless vibration warning device functions successfully.