Design of Wearable Wrist Haptic Device for Blind Navigation using Microsoft Kinect for Xbox 360

This paper considers issue relevant for the study and use of haptic technology for assistive devices for individuals who are blind and visually impaired in some of the major areas of importance: enhanced coverage of the direction, algorithm to be used and accuracy of the device in navigating. With all the gathered studies and considerations in designing a wearable haptic device, and with the aim to enhance the coverage of the direction it provides to the user while the device being wearable and not impairing the movement of the user, which is suitable for the blind and visually impaired person, the proponents designed a wearable wrist haptic device that provides the angle of direction to the user. Using solenoids' mechanical motion which is responsible for giving haptic feedback to the skin of the user and the concept of binary system or notation to provide the angle of direction to the user through touch. 7 solenoids which represents; left and right for the side of direction, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 for the binary notation. This can serve as a reference for the implementation to actual scenarios integrated with sensors. The created device is applied in real-time blind navigation using Canny Edge detector in obstacle detection system using Microsoft Kinect for XBOX 360.