A Novel Low-Cost Portable Device for the Visually Impaired to Manage Time Efficiently
Nearly 285 million people in the world suffer from blindness or visual impairment. As ninety percent of blind individuals cannot work, there is loss of economic productivity, causing a loss of $8 billion a year in the United States. This cost could be decreased by making the visually impaired more productive and more efficient during their day. Efficient time management is a dire need for the visually impaired. Unfortunately, apart from an assistant to write their schedule for them, there is no efficient reminder method that will help them do so.
The goal of this project is to build a low-cost device for the visually impaired that will effectively set reminders for accomplishing desired tasks successfully; thereby, increasing their productivity and self-worth. The product will set reminders for them after collecting data from the sensors and will listen and respond to any tasks they would like to set.
Sensors built in the device will successfully record voice commands and replay them at a set time. The tool provides fields to replay previously recorded commands as well as options to delete undesired commands and feed in new ones. As soon as the user boots the program, the device will replay all the pre-set tasks of the blind person for the user’s reference.
Raspberry Pi, connected to the microphone and speaker sensors, was coded using Python and a backend software.
The device plays the day’s tasks in sequential order; thereby reminding the user of their goals for the day. In other words, the device will play back the tasks to be completed at a specific time. When used, the user successfully accomplished desired the tasks 100% of the time.
The device proved beneficial to the user not only by enabling them to fulfill their set goals but also enhanced their productivity. In conclusion, the device brings a positive impact to the global community.