%0 Journal Article
%T A Smart Infrared Microcontroller-Based Blind Guidance System
%A Amjed S. Al-Fahoum
%A Heba B. Al-Hmoud
%A Ausaila A. Al-Fraihat
%J Active and Passive Electronic Components
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/726480
%X Blindness is a state of lacking the visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors. The partial blindness represents the lack of integration in the growth of the optic nerve or visual centre of the eye, and total blindness is the full absence of the visual light perception. In this work, a simple, cheap, friendly user, smart blind guidance system is designed and implemented to improve the mobility of both blind and visually impaired people in a specific area. The proposed work includes a wearable equipment consists of head hat and mini hand stick to help the blind person to navigate alone safely and to avoid any obstacles that may be encountered, whether fixed or mobile, to prevent any possible accident. The main component of this system is the infrared sensor which is used to scan a predetermined area around blind by emitting-reflecting waves. The reflected signals received from the barrier objects are used as inputs to PIC microcontroller. The microcontroller is then used to determine the direction and distance of the objects around the blind. It also controls the peripheral components that alert the user about obstacle's shape, material, and direction. The implemented system is cheap, fast, and easy to use and an innovative affordable solution to blind and visually impaired people in third world countries. 1. Introduction Many people suffer from serious visual impairments preventing them from travelling independently. Accordingly, they need to use a wide range of tools and techniques to help them in their mobility. One of these techniques is orientation and mobility specialist who helps the visually impaired and blind people and trains them to move on their own independently and safely depending on their other remaining senses. Another method is the guide dogs which are trained specially to help the blind people on their movement by navigating around the obstacles to alert the person to change his/her way. However, this method has some limitations such as difficulty to understand the complex direction by these dogs, and they are only suitable for about five years. The cost of these trained dogs is very expensive, also it is difficult for many of blind and visually impaired persons to provide the necessary care for another living being. There is an international symbol tool of blind and visually impaired people just like the white cane with a red tip which is used to enhance the blind movement. Nowadays, different types of these canes have been used such as the white cane [1], the smart cane [2], and the laser cane [3]. However, this
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/apec/2013/726480/