Augmented Reality (AR) Software Built to Aid the Visually Impaired (ObstAR)
Overview
ObstAR is augmented reality software which aims to provide visually impaired individuals with the means to navigate independently, such as canes and assistance from others.
Problem addressed
Individuals with visual impairments may experience various types of vision loss. To assist them in independently navigating different environments, CEVR has developed a safe and affordable augmented reality software designed to fit their individual impairement needs.
Innovation
- ObstAR combines a clinical study that examines behaviour of visually impaired patients and healthy participants when navigating familiar and unfamiliar obstacles, with the practical implementation of a navigational aid built using AR glasses and an artificial intelligence recognition algorithm.
- To enhance the ability to recognize the environment and avoid obstacles, the device integrates a suite of advanced algorithms, including obstacle avoidance navigation, object recognition and segmentation, scene recognition, text recognition, and gesture recognition. This comprehensive approach aims to meet the diverse navigation needs of patients, ensuring safe navigation and heightened environmental awareness.
- One key focus of ObstAR is identifying specific areas of interest (AOIs), such as traffic lights, zebra crossings, sharp turns, and large banners. This personalised guidance can greatly benefit users who frequently traverse the same routes, as the system can offer customised support based on their familiarity with the environment.
Key impact
- Redefining the value of independent living for individuals with visual impairments, bringing change and improvement to their lives.
- Opening up new possibilities for the mobility freedom and social inclusion of the visually impaired.
Award
- Gold Medal with the Congratulations of the Jury at the 2024 International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva
- Gold Medal at the 2023 Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions in Hong Kong
The InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR) was established in 2020 as a research collaboration between The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the University of Waterloo (UWaterloo) in Canada. It is located at the Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong. It is one of the research laboratories under the "InnoHK Research Clusters" initiative of the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. CEVR is committed to developing technologies that prevent, detect, treat, and mitigate vision loss, driving ground-breaking research across three key areas: Preserving and Restoring Healthy Vision, Next-Generation Therapeutics, and Advanced Optometry Technologies. For further information, please visit www.cevr.hk.
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