Athletes living with blindness regularly put their trust in sighted counterparts to guide their every footstep as they run across pathways they cannot see. But Google is developing technology that could one day allow these runners to exercise independently.
Project Guideline, a product of a partnership between global nonprofit Achilles International and Google, is being tested in 20 different cities in the United States, with Salt Lake City being one of the testing sites.
On April 9, six runners who are legally blind, along with seven volunteers to help them, tested the technology in Sugar House Park, according to Ken Duke, the Achilles Utah chapter president, who is one of the runners living with blindness.
How does Project Guideline work?
Armed with a cellphone and headphones, runners will be able to follow a designated path to run without assistance. Mikhail Sirotenko, Google research technical lead manager, said the cellphone will be harnessed around the runner’s waist and will use an app to track a painted line on the ground to alert the runner if they are veering off the path. If they are veering too far to the left, a signal will sound in the left ear through the headphones, and vice versa if they are straying too far to the right. Additionally, there will be no need for the phone to have an internet connection.
What were the results of the testing?
This is an attempt to learn if on-device technology delivered by a mobile phone can one day provide enhanced experiences for the blind and low vision community by providing additional helpful alternatives,” Sirotenko said. He noted that the project is an early-stage research project and still requires a sighted individual to help operate the system. He also mentioned that the painted line is meant to be on a pedestrian-only path, free of obstacles.
Achilles International President and CEO Emily Glasser said Utahns had the highest number of participants out of the 14 cities they’ve done trials in so far, “really demonstrating a curiosity and a generosity of spirit and support for what is really going to be a transformative technology.”
“I believe firmly in Google’s capacity to deliver this technology, and certainly Achilles is doing all it can to assist in advancing the technology to a place where it could be more broadly shared,” Glasser said.
When is the projected date for when the technology would be fully available?
Sirotenko did not have a projected date for when the technology would be fully available to blind and low-vision users to utilize independently. He said they are currently trying to get the technology to recognize obstacles, such as other runners on the running path, which is very difficult.
