Inventor and technology expert Steve Hoefer of Grathio Labs recently unveiled the Tacit Project on his company’s website. Still in the prototype stage, the device serves as a haptic sonar for the blind, born out of Hoefer’s attempt to create an audio-only video game.
Strapped to the user’s wrist, the gadget translates the distance of nearby objects into pressure on the skin using vibration motors similar to the ones found in cell phones. It senses objects at a distance of 1 inch to 10 feet away and responds in fractions of a second, applying firmer pressure the closer the device is to an object.
According to the inventor, there is little to no learning curve with the contraption. Every visually impaired person to test it out has learned how to use it within seconds. This easy-to-use technology can help the visually impaired navigate through complex environments and help them learn their surroundings.
Hoefer admits, however, that the public prototype is not perfect. He explains that its size could easily be reduced by half to make the device less bulky and more comfortable. He also suggests that the replaceable batteries that power the invention be replaced by some sort of blind-friendly rechargeable battery.
Because Hoefer strongly believes in open-source technology and sharing his knowledge within the online community, he has provided instructions on how to construct one of these sonar devices yourself. If you think you have the technical know-how to pull this off, put one together and let us know how it goes.
