by Benson Agoha
A young inventor has raised hope for the blind with a new discovery which uses a camera system to give sight to the isually impaired.
The OrCam artificial vision device uses advanced algorithms, video and audio technology to open up a new world for the blind in an inexpensive way, according to a Times of Israel report.
* Erez Naaman demonstrates the OrCam - a new tech solution for the blind and the vision-impaired.
Developed a Jerusalem base company, the pioneering does not actually restore vision according to its vice president, Erez Naaman, whose goal is to help people with visual handicaps 'see'.
Naaman said proudly “We do the next best thing — to help the visually impaired navigate the world with a low-cost device and without invasive procedures.”
OrCam was made possible by recent developments in technology which brought good news for the blind and the visually impaired, ToI said, adding the "Israeli device to assist such people is the first on the market — and far more inexpensive than alternative technologies being developed."
* Follow me on Twitter(follow): @bensonagoha and @woolwichonline.
* Photo Credit: ErezNaaman/ToI
A young inventor has raised hope for the blind with a new discovery which uses a camera system to give sight to the isually impaired.
The OrCam artificial vision device uses advanced algorithms, video and audio technology to open up a new world for the blind in an inexpensive way, according to a Times of Israel report.
* Erez Naaman demonstrates the OrCam - a new tech solution for the blind and the vision-impaired.Developed a Jerusalem base company, the pioneering does not actually restore vision according to its vice president, Erez Naaman, whose goal is to help people with visual handicaps 'see'.
Naaman said proudly “We do the next best thing — to help the visually impaired navigate the world with a low-cost device and without invasive procedures.”
OrCam was made possible by recent developments in technology which brought good news for the blind and the visually impaired, ToI said, adding the "Israeli device to assist such people is the first on the market — and far more inexpensive than alternative technologies being developed."
The developers say the miniaturization of processors paved the way for smartphones loaded with GPS chips, Wi-Fi connections, accelerometers, and other sensors and that has now also led to the development of some new health-related devices including "watches that record exercise sessions to monitors that use sensors to determine blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and more."
For years, researchers have been trying to figure out ways to harness sensor technology to assist people suffering from blindness and acute vision impairment, perhaps the most debilitating and difficult physical disability in a society that relies chiefly on visual cues.
Like other devices, the OrCam solution uses sophisticated technology, in the form of a high-resolution video camera and smart algorithms that analyze what the camera is seeing, and reading back the information to a user in real time.
But it is also different and works by ensuring that “the database recognizes words, remembers faces, locations and landmarks, describes shapes, and other features that are read back to users, letting them navigate situations successfully,” and “it's not even a 3-D camera,” Naaman told the media.
With an OrCam attached to the frame of a pair of glasses, a user can even “read” newspapers, restaurant menus, or books, with the device recognizing whole words and reading them back to a user, according to the report.
A sure good news for the blind visually impaired who can ‘see’ with the new camera system.
* Follow me on Twitter(follow): @bensonagoha and @woolwichonline.
* Photo Credit: ErezNaaman/ToI
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