GPS to help blind navigate, maybe replace guide dogs?

[+Sparrowhawk]

Check it out. Interesting stuff!

[+Airmapper]

There was something like that on CSI: New York once, the blind victim had a Braille PDA/ GPS that talked. It was pretty inaccurate though, they were looking at the victims tracks through buildings, like your going to get a good tracklog in a skyscraper. There is no way a handheld PDA device could accurately guide a blind person through New York.

 

The one in the article looks more feasible, with extra sensors to compensate.

[+RealWorldAvatars]

Dog for me, please. Not only does a dog not lose efficiency near skyscrapers and electrical or radio sources, but as another thread on this forum shows, it's actually better than a GPS at sniffing out caches. Not to mention that whole "eating leftovers, making friends feel welcome, sleeping on your feet" aspect of dogginess.

 

Besides, the only real advantage to being blind is the ability to bring your dog anywhere you darn well choose. Hauling a talking GPS along just doesn't sound like as much fun.

[+wildchld97]

I've become blind while *using* the darn thing..bumping into buildings, rocks, trees, and people because I pay too much dag attention to the arrow sometimes. LOL