A system and apparatus for a mobility cane for the visually impaired to help aid pedestrian identification and provide walking assistance are described. The disclosed embodiments describe, amongst other things, a mobility cane whose shaft length may be illuminated and/or may utilize sensor information to determine illumination patterns. The cane may be a stand-alone device, or may be used in conjunction with a smart mobile device (e.g. smart phone).

A guide system is provided that uses a plurality of sensors to identify and determine a clear path for an ambulatory vision impaired person. The system includes one or more wheels that rotate to propel the system, a platform supported by the one or more wheels and housing a processor, a rigid harness with a haptic feedback grip that is positioned to be grasped by an operator, and one or more sensors configured to sense information about the environment. In operation, the processor analyzes information sensed by the sensors to identify object in the path of the guide system and sends messages to the operator to allow the operator to avoid the identified objects. The messages may be sent to the operator via the haptic feedback grip or audibly via a speaker or via a wireless connection to a haptic or audio device being worn by the operator.

A guide system is provided that uses a plurality of sensors to identify and determine a clear path for an ambulatory vision impaired person. The system includes one or more wheels that rotate to propel the system, a platform supported by the one or more wheels and housing a processor, a rigid harness with a haptic feedback grip that is positioned to be grasped by an operator, and one or more sensors configured to sense information about the environment. In operation, the processor analyzes information sensed by the sensors to identify object in the path of the guide system and sends messages to the operator to allow the operator to avoid the identified objects. The messages may be sent to the operator via the haptic feedback grip or audibly via a speaker or via a wireless connection to a haptic or audio device being worn by the operator.

A method for providing information to a user, preferably including: determining environmental information; determining a set of features based on the information; determining output parameters based on the features; and controlling a sensory output system to generate outputs based on the output parameters. A sensory output device, preferably including a plurality of sensory output actuators. A system for providing information to a user, preferably including one or more: sensory output devices, sensors, and computing systems.

An information processing apparatus including a processing unit that sets, on a basis of acquired input information, a feedback target range in which an object existing on inside serves as a target to be fed back to a user, in which the processing unit outputs information regarding the set feedback target range to an output unit.

An information processing apparatus including a processing unit that sets, on a basis of acquired input information, a feedback target range in which an object existing on inside serves as a target to be fed back to a user, in which the processing unit outputs information regarding the set feedback target range to an output unit.

The method, computer program product and computer system may include computing device which may create a user profile based on user data associated with a user and animal data associated with the user's service animal. The computing device may receive a destination input and determine one or more routes to the input destination, the one or more routes each being associated with a set of route commands. The computing device may receive a route selection and translate the set of route commands associated with the selected route into a set of service animal command signals. The computing device may transmit a first service animal command signal from the set of service animal command signals to a signal device, the signal device being attached to the user's service animal and generate an output by the signal device corresponding with the first service animal command signal.

An illuminated, multi-function cane for use by low-vision individuals is described and claimed. The device's various pulsating lights enable low-vision people to travel at night with assured confidence that they will be seen by drivers and cyclists from a safe distance exceeding one mile on a dark street! While at a high traffic lit city intersection the Lumi cane is very noticeable with its strobing rainbow lights 200 yards away, even with competition from other bright artificial lights. Even in dense fog Lumi's LED lights are visible at 40 to 75 yards distance.

A thermal display module configured to create a thermal pattern discerned by a visually impaired user to determine his or her surroundings. The thermal display module includes a plurality of thermoelectric modules, each of which are configured to cool or heat a pixel plate in close proximity to a user's skin. The cooling or heating of each of the thermoelectric modules create the thermal pattern discernable by the user.

Visual impairment, or vision impairment, refers to the vision loss of an individual to such a degree as to require additional support for one or more aspects of their life. Such a significant limitation of visual capability may result from disease, trauma, congenital, and/or degenerative conditions that cannot be corrected by conventional means, such as refractive correction, such as eyeglasses or contact lenses, medication, or surgery. According to embodiments of the invention a method of augmenting a user's sight is provided comprising obtaining an image of a scene using a camera carried by the individual, transmitting the obtained image to a processor, selecting an algorithm of a plurality of spectral, spatial, and temporal image modification algorithms to be applied to the image by the processor, modifying the image using the algorithm substantially in real time, and displaying the modified image on a display device worn by the individual.