Danger Avoidance
Use case
The user is walking on their path, and there is an object of large volume that is:
1) Getting close to the user with a faster-than-walking velocity, and
2) Their momentum is not decreasing.
System feedback
Danger alert
As the dangerous object passes a threshold, users hear a danger tone for 1 second accompanied by a voice alerting them to the presence of danger for total of 2 seconds. This is followed by stereo voice information regarding the nature of the danger and its relative position to the users, utilizing the methods used in blind and low vision training.
Danger avoidance guidance
Users can also select to receive guidance information on how to avoid to the danger, which follows the nature of the danger.
Danger relief
As the danger risk goes away, users will hear the good chime followed by voice information stating danger relief.
Sound files
A girl stops on her path as she gets a danger alert.
Danger avoidance in action
Imagine you are downtown and arrive at a crossing. You reach the edge of the curb ramp and begin waiting. You being to hear a danger sound alerting you that danger is approaching to your 9 c’clock with a vibration in your right hand. This steers you back up the sidewalk a bit by letting you know that you stopped just a bit too far forward into a bike lane! So you back up and hear a good chime and a voice stating “danger skipped”. A moment later, you hear the bicyclist in the bike path go by, which clarifies the danger you just averted.
User requirements
We learned from our users that in scenarios described above, they’d like to know:
Existence & type of danger
Users would like to know what type of object is posing a danger to them.
The danger sound icon, in addition to voice stating danger, will be played to ensure they’re aware of the danger.
Location of danger
Users would like to know from which direction the danger is approaching them.
The relative location of the object to utilizing “o’clock” notion will be played in stereo.
Avoidance information
Users would like to optionally receive guiding information on best ways to avoid the obstacle.
The system calculates the best means of avoiding the danger and plays it for the user.
Danger relief
Users would like to know when the danger is no longer present to continue making progress towards their destination.
The good chime, in addition to a vocal message stating relief, will be played. Navigation will continue to play if applicable.
Input system requirements
Identify danger
Camera imagery and LiDAR is used to identify the object posing danger to the users.
Once danger is identified, the system starts recording for cases of emergency.
With the user’s consent, recordings can be used to improve detection algorithms.
Direction
Camera imagery detects the relative direction of the danger to the user.
This information is also used to prevent false alarms.
Location
The GPS location and camera imagery is used to locate the user and provide navigation guidance after relief.
Identify safe path
Sensors determine the safe path for users to deviate toward to avoid the obstacle.