Universal Real-Time Navigational Assistance (URNA): An Urban Bluetooth Beacon for the Blind

Presenter: 徐欣佑

References

S. Bohonos, A. Lee, A. Malik, C. Thai, and R. Manduchi “Universal Real-Time Navigational Assistance (URNA): An Urban Bluetooth Beacon for the Blind.” 1st International Workshop on Systems and Networking Support for Healthcare and Assisted Living Environments (HealthNet 2007), June 2007.

Introduction

Blind people cannot use techniques sighted people use for safe ambulation Street signals or traffic lights Information of an approaching bus

Location-aware information Bluetooth-enabled system

Bluetooth beacon

Due to its limited range Ideal solution for location-aware

information broadcasting Transmit the schedule of the bus

stop Description of an urban

intersection

Previous work

GPS combines with geographic information system (GIS) Environments with tall buildings

Pedestrian traffic lights provide alternative information The acoustic signals are often

confusing

Previous work (cont’) The Talking Signs s

ystem Uses an infrared (IR)

beacon Decoded by a hand-

held receiver Only when the user

points the receiver

System description

Universal Real-Time Navigational Assistance (URNA) Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Accessible Pedestrian Signals Bluetooth modules Text-To-Speech (TTS)

The layout of the URNA architecture in a traffic intersection

System description (cont’) Navigation Controller (NavCon) FPGA-based board that interfaces wit

h the traffic controller Via Ethernet

Bluetooth modules are located at the intersection

System description (cont’) Pedestrian Navigator (PedNav)

Written for mobile devices A J2ME application Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP)

The role of PedNav Accept incoming connections from nearb

y NavCon beacons Relay useful information to the user.

System description (cont’) Text-To-Speech (TTS)

built-in the Symbian S60 devices Include pre-recorded voice Audio streaming

Bluetooth modules Via RS-422 and RS-2

32 serial protocol cable length of 50 ft

to 350 ft Power wiring would

still be required Power control

Different communication range

User interface usability

Mobile phone

Test equipment Nokia N70, Nokia N91

PedNav software Java-based Voice-guided user interface

Conclusion and future work The risk of radio range overlap betwe

en different transmitters Improve multiple-connection support

in PedNav Traffic intersection mode Store directory mode

工作指引觀察紀錄 : 快樂商店

田野調查時間與地點 北投國軍醫院”快樂商店” 時間： 11/29( 四 ) 09:00 ～ 12:00 就輔員：黃昭蓉 田調人員：廖瑞華、徐欣佑

工作項目 店面整理、清潔 院區外賣、代購服務 收銀機操作與點貨

工作指引觀察與評估 店面點貨工作提醒 外賣、代購外送路線指引 收銀機操作