e-Vision: An AI-powered system for promoting the autonomy of visually impaired

Authors

  • Panagiotis Migkotzidis Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Information Technologies Institute, MKlab, Thermi-Thessaloniki, 57001, Greece
  • Fotis Kalaganis Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Information Technologies Institute, MKlab, Thermi-Thessaloniki, 57001, Greece
  • Kostas Georgiadis Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Information Technologies Institute, MKlab, Thermi-Thessaloniki, 57001, Greece
  • Elisavet Chatzilari Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Information Technologies Institute, MKlab, Thermi-Thessaloniki, 57001, Greece
  • George Pehlivanides Tetragon S.A., Karaiskaki 2B str, 54641 Thessaloniki, Greece
  • Spyros Tsafaras Tetragon S.A., Karaiskaki 2B str, 54641 Thessaloniki, Greece
  • Kostas Monastiridis Tetragon S.A., Karaiskaki 2B str, 54641 Thessaloniki, Greece
  • George Martinidis Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Architecture, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece
  • Spiros Nikolopoulos Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Information Technologies Institute, MKlab, Thermi-Thessaloniki, 57001, Greece
  • Ioannis Kompatsiaris Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Information Technologies Institute, MKlab, Thermi-Thessaloniki, 57001, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2612-0496/10707

Keywords:

computer vision, assistive technologies, blind

Abstract

Computer vision-based assistive technology for the visually impaired is still a field of ongoing research. Its fundamental scope is to extend the frontiers of visually impaired by means of providing a greater degree of independence and autonomy in their daily living activities. Towards this direction, we present the “e-Vision”, a hybrid system that couples the convenience and the inherently seamless adoption of an external camera embedded within a pair of eyeglasses with the processing power of modern smartphone devices. The system consists of a pair of eyeglasses integrating a camera and a mobile application that encapsulates computer vision algorithms capable to enhance several daily living tasks for the visually impaired. The proposed system is a context-aware solution and builds upon three important day-to-day activities: visiting a super-market, going an outdoor walk and carrying out a work at a public service. Going one step further, the e-Vision also caters for social inclusion by providing social context and enhances overall experience by adopting soundscapes that allow users to perceive selected points of interest in an immersive acoustic way.

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Published

2021-03-30

How to Cite

Migkotzidis, P., Kalaganis, F., Georgiadis, K., Chatzilari, E., Pehlivanides, G., Tsafaras, S., Monastiridis, K., Martinidis, G., Nikolopoulos, S., & Kompatsiaris, I. (2020). e-Vision: An AI-powered system for promoting the autonomy of visually impaired. European Journal of Creative Practices in Cities and Landscapes, 3(2), 33–53. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2612-0496/10707

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2020): Design for People’s Autonomy. Rights to Independent Living

Section

Main Section

License

Copyright (c) 2020 Panagiotis Migkotzidis, Fotis Kalaganis, Kostas Georgiadis, Elisavet Chatzilari, George Pehlivanides, Spyros Tsafaras, Kostas Monastiridis, Spiros Nikolopoulos, Ioannis Kompatsiaris

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.