An RFID-based Orientation System for People With Blindness
TalkingPoints is a collaborative project at the University of Michigan between the School of Information, the Whereabouts Project in the Computer Science department, and the Adaptive Technology Computing Site run by Information Technology Central Services.
Its goal is explore the possibility of using technology as a means for blind individuals to orient themselves in both outdoor and interior spaces, and to learn more about their surroundings during their normal walking from place to place, or when they choose to explore an area to learn what's nearby. Currently, we do this by tagging objects of interest with an RFID reader, and providing an RFID reader and computer to read the tags. Unlike ordinary RFID readers, the TalkingPoints reader speaks the information conveyed by the tag to the user.
To learn more about the project, please contact us at talkingpoints@umich.edu.
RFID is short for Radio Frequency Identification. It is a labeling technology, much like bar coding, that is commonly used to identify and track inventoried items RFID tags are read by RFID readers. RFID tags are thin, adhesive, often transparent and contain small radio transmitters that when activated by an RFID tag reader emit a string of digits that can be interpreted by the RFID reader. RFID tag readers are usually about the size of a small laptop and may be hand held. RFID tags and readers can ordinarily communicate within a range of 1" to 6' depending on the power characteristics of the devices. Larger battery powered RFID tags can transmit up to 100 yards or more, but we are concerned primarily with smaller unpowered tags and hand held readers that can interoperate with a 6' radius.
A portable, talking RFID tag reader was constructed that reads tags mounted within a 3' radius of the RFID reader. A pair of antennas were attached to the reader so that the user would know whether the tag being read was located to the left or right. A compass may be incorporated to provide additional directional information.
You can learn more on the TalkingPoints Project Poster and our extended abstract, Introduction to the Talking Points Project. Both were recently presented at The Eighth International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility (ASSETS 2006).
The project will move in two directions, one technical and one human. Technically, we need to shrink the size and enhance the power of the RFID reader. On the human factors side, we need to make the reader comfortably wearable. We also need to begin shaping the concept in collaboration with blind users. Human-computer interface issues will be considered in parallel with technical development. We anticipate being able to tag one streetscape and one classroom building interior that will serve as test environments for the project.
GPS based systems for the blind have been available for a few years. Among other drawbacks, GPS does not work indoors. RFID works both indoors and out. It may be the case that some combination of GPS and RFID systems will provide a more complete solution. Other building orientation research underway at the University may provide yet another component of a generally accessible navigation/orientation system.