Scape Technologies, a London-based computer vision startup, announced that it has raised $8 million in seed funding and is launching the first iteration of its “Visual Positioning Service,” which lets developers build apps that require location accuracy far beyond the capabilities of GPS alone.
GPS
Consortium Develops GPS App for the Visually Impaired
Navigating a busy airport or bus terminal can be a challenging proposition for anyone who is blind or visually impaired. Enter ASSIST, an app for indoor navigation in development by a City College of New York-led consortium. The ASSIST app is part of the SAT-Hub project, which has received a boost from a $750,000 three-year grant from the Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) Program at the National Science Foundation.
Young Entrepreneur Secures Investment from Microsoft for Smart Cane
Riya Karumanchi, 15, has secured around $56,000 in funding for a smart cane, including an investment from Microsoft.
Walkity Uses Haptic Feedback On Your Feet to Notify You the Direction While Walking
Walkity is a new shoe attachable that helps you navigate. It is two-piece wearable which works by using vibrational motors to generate haptic feedback. The generated feedback is used to notify turns and arrivals. Vibration on the left module indicates a left turn and vice versa. When both motors are active it indicates an arrival. A vigorous vibration will notify the user about the wrong path taken. The placement of vibrational motors causes NO tickles, unlike other similar products.
Seattle Launches Assistive Technology for Blind and Low Vision Travelers
The Port of Seattle is launching a new pilot program to help people who are blind and low vision access a new assistive technology to safely and independently use Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Partnering with Aira, Sea-Tac will be the first airport on the west coast and among the first airports in the nation to join the Aira Airport Network, and use this wearable smart glasses technology.
University Teams Up to Develop ‘Smart Paint’ to Help the Visually Impaired Navigate
A team at Ohio State University, along with the city of Columbus and private companies, is using smart, connected tech to help the blind and visually impaired navigate.
14 Year Ole Inventor Creates a Smart Cane with GPS and Panic Button
Riya spent much of her middle school days working on the SmartCane, a sensor-enabled cane intended to enhance the functionality of the typical white cane used by many people who are blind or visually impaired. According to Riya, inspiration for the project was sparked when she visited a friend’s house and met the friend’s grandmother, who struggled with visual impairment. Noting the grandmother’s need for assistance in mobility and sensing, Riya began researching the tools used by the visually impaired. Like a true millennial, she noticed one thing in particular: that these tools seemed stuck in the last century.
Be My Eyes Joining Moovit to Make Public Transit More Accessible for Blind and Low Vision Travelers
Blind and low vision Moovit users can now access Be My Eyes directly from the Moovit app, to ensure a smooth journey with public transportation.
Google Maps Will Soon Wake You Up When You Need to Get Off the Bus or Train
Google Maps will soon guide you through every step of a mass transit ride, including telling you when it’s time to get off. Once the feature rolls out, you should find a “start” button at the bottom of the screen when you look up how to go to a certain destination. If you select that button, you’ll get live updates on where you are as you walk or as your ride moves, not only within the app, but also on your Android lock screen.
Blind Runner’ Completes NYC Marathon Despite Complications with Wearable Technology
Simon Wheatcroft, a blind runner, used wearable technology that enabled him to run about 16 miles of Sunday’s New York City Marathon with minimal human assistance. As Simon Wheatcroft walked onto the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to start the New York City Marathon, he could sense other runners moving around him but could see them only as one smudged shape.
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