Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Indian researcher invents easy-to-control wheelchair
Pooja Viswanathan, a Ph.D. researcher in computer science at the University of British Columbia, has designed a 'smart' wheelchair that is expected to give disabled users more control over their movements.
The prototype, named Navigation and Obstacle Avoidance Help, or NOAH, is equipped with stereo-vision cameras and software that learns the patterns of behavior of a user.
"For navigation and for people suffering from cognitive impairments, audio prompts have been found to be more effective than visual cues," says Viswanathan in a UBC News article. "People with cognitive impairments often need extra time to process new information, so it's important that NOAH doesn't harangue them but rather offers suggestions at the right time."
These twin cameras, which act as 'human eyes,' and the software, can be attached to any ordinary powered wheelchair operating through a laptop under the seat.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
The prototype, named Navigation and Obstacle Avoidance Help, or NOAH, is equipped with stereo-vision cameras and software that learns the patterns of behavior of a user.
"For navigation and for people suffering from cognitive impairments, audio prompts have been found to be more effective than visual cues," says Viswanathan in a UBC News article. "People with cognitive impairments often need extra time to process new information, so it's important that NOAH doesn't harangue them but rather offers suggestions at the right time."
These twin cameras, which act as 'human eyes,' and the software, can be attached to any ordinary powered wheelchair operating through a laptop under the seat.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Indian researcher invents easy-to-control wheelchair, Navigation and Obstacle Avoidance Help, Pooja Viswanathan, University of British Columbia, wheelchair
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