Emerging sensor technology aids blind and visually impaired pedestrians

In today’s digital landscape, sensor technology has become an integral part of cities and counties—from those that can sense wildfire to sensors installed inside garbage receptacles that alert department of public works employees when it’s time to make a trash run. 

A new patented technology from Intelligent Material Solutions, Inc. is designed to help pedestrians who are blind and visually impaired navigate busy sidewalks and avoid sidewalk hazards. The sensor tech uses a cooperative guidance system to determine walkers’ precise geolocation and guide them to public transportation, retail entrances, sidewalk exits and other locations. 

To that end, rare-earth crystals, which convert energy and provide digital information, are embedded in paint or thermoplastics. Sensors mounted or integrated with a cane can sense the crystals, gathering geolocation feedback.

“Paired with a smart device, the system provides enhanced situational awareness for the user. Benefits include straight-line guidance at intersections and identification of transit stops. The system is also viable indoors for guidance in department stores and shopping malls,” according to a statement about the technology.

The crystal technology, which is called “Intelligent Material,” is defined on the organization’s website as “highly-tunable physical, optical, and magnetic crystals that exhibit up- and down- converting luminescent properties. The patented crystals exhibit fine tunable energy conversions, with unique emission and absorption spectra. Through IMS’ methods the crystals can be grown to any shape or size (3nm-50,000nm) and will naturally arrange themselves pictured to the right. The crystals are inert and can be used for a variety of applications including, life science and diagnostics, defense, authentication, transportation, spectroscopy and more.”

To fine tune and test the technology in real life scenarios, Intelligent Material Solutions is working with partners including the City of Tampa, Florida, Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind, Ohio State University, Ohio State School for the Blind, Portland State University and the University of British Columbia.  

Demonstrations were conducted at Portland State University and the University of British Columbia to test the effectiveness of the paint and cane while simultaneously receiving feedback from volunteers. The organization has also had trials in Tampa. 

So far, the sensor technology had received a positive reception by those who’ve tested it out so far.

“Our BVI volunteers who participated in trials in Portland and Vancouver BC were quite excited about the potential assistance that the I-Paint and cane system could provide them,” said Jonathan Fink, director of Portland State University’s Digital City Testbed Center. “We’re just at the early stages of exploring all of the ways this technology might be used to help people navigate through complex urban environments.”

According to the World Health Organization, a minimum of 2.2 billion people has some form of visual impairment globally. And while smartphone GPS based aid may seem like an effective guidance system, current smartphone-enabled GPS worsens around trees and structures such as bridges and buildings, according to GPS.gov.