Future Changes
In future improvements of this project, developing a way to identify obstacles approaching from behind a user without overwhelming or confusing them would provide a safer and more thorough apparatus, however this would require additional appropriate financing and resources.
An additional adjustment that could completely eliminate current issues would be an entirely redesigned approach to the problem statement. Specifically, developing an installation that is directly incorporated into the infrastructure of any given street could guide a visually impaired person by simultaneously avoiding the need to buy an expensive apparatus. This could be achieved by lining streets with stable (waterproof, physically strong, and out of civilian reach) electronic receptors that would send and receive signals from an ear piece in one or both ears of a visually impaired person. Signals acting as communication between the receptors and earpieces would identify for the user where the streets and sidewalks are, buildings, and could even extract specific building and street names for the user to learn upon request if the system could be synched up and constantly update with google maps, only considering Google agreed to participate. One might suggest this as an expensive, physically large, and time consuming proposal to incorporate throughout the world and that it because of this, it would not be feasible to approach. However, this could be solved by simply making it the government's responsibility with funding redirected from military reserves. For example, in America, military spending made up approximately 57% of the country's discretionary spending in 2015, according to nationalpriorities.org. By simply reallocating a small fraction of this funding towards national infrastructure, this project could become a reality in a realistically short span of time. This would also make the wellbeing of the country’s citizens the direct responsibility of the government rather and save individuals from conversely spending money on an expensive apparatus that they should not have to. This approach could not only aid those visually impaired, but those who are completely blind, which is another reason why this is the most preferable and appropriate to develop.
In future improvements of this project, developing a way to identify obstacles approaching from behind a user without overwhelming or confusing them would provide a safer and more thorough apparatus, however this would require additional appropriate financing and resources.
An additional adjustment that could completely eliminate current issues would be an entirely redesigned approach to the problem statement. Specifically, developing an installation that is directly incorporated into the infrastructure of any given street could guide a visually impaired person by simultaneously avoiding the need to buy an expensive apparatus. This could be achieved by lining streets with stable (waterproof, physically strong, and out of civilian reach) electronic receptors that would send and receive signals from an ear piece in one or both ears of a visually impaired person. Signals acting as communication between the receptors and earpieces would identify for the user where the streets and sidewalks are, buildings, and could even extract specific building and street names for the user to learn upon request if the system could be synched up and constantly update with google maps, only considering Google agreed to participate. One might suggest this as an expensive, physically large, and time consuming proposal to incorporate throughout the world and that it because of this, it would not be feasible to approach. However, this could be solved by simply making it the government's responsibility with funding redirected from military reserves. For example, in America, military spending made up approximately 57% of the country's discretionary spending in 2015, according to nationalpriorities.org. By simply reallocating a small fraction of this funding towards national infrastructure, this project could become a reality in a realistically short span of time. This would also make the wellbeing of the country’s citizens the direct responsibility of the government rather and save individuals from conversely spending money on an expensive apparatus that they should not have to. This approach could not only aid those visually impaired, but those who are completely blind, which is another reason why this is the most preferable and appropriate to develop.
"Federal Spending: Where Does the Money Go." N ational Priorities Project. National Priorities
Project, n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.
https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budgetbasics/federalbudget101/spending/
Thank you for looking ahead. Great ideas!
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