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July 5th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) and Japanese IT products and services company Fujitsu have jointly developed technology that could help blind people navigate indoor spaces using just their smartphone.
“The system is able to provide real-time positioning data, even indoors where GPS cannot be used, and provide audio instructions on the distance and direction to a destination to help guide the blind,” revealed Fujitsu.
The new system uses NICT-developed impulse radio UWB (IR-UWB) technology, indoor base stations, Fujitsu-developed mapping software, a mobile station (a smartphone) and a control PC to provide users with precise position information when indoors. The system has a granularity of less than 30 centimeters and is also able to provide users with real-time feedback about their location.
Meanwhile in June, blind “ultra runner” Simon Wheatcroft made history when he became the first Olympic torchbearer to use an iPhone to help guide him as he carried the torch through his village in the UK.
He used his iPhone, a GPS-enabled app called RunKeeper and Apple’s intelligent voice assistant Siri to help him run solo.
“Perhaps the biggest thing RunKeeper did for me was give me confidence. That little voice that gave me distance markers and pacing gave me confidence and belief that I could do it,” said Wheatcroft.
“The iPhone has been truly revolutionary for the blind and Siri really took that up a notch,” he added. “Usually devices for the visually impaired cost a fortune, for example a CCTV and a Colour Detector would set you back easily $1000. A huge price tag for 2 devices that serve specific tasks. The iPhone however is a one-off cost that has access to the App store that can easily achieve the tasks these specific devices can for a few dollars. The accessibility features such as VoiceOver are also fantastic, the ability to read your emails and texts while out and about on a device that isn’t the size of a brick is amazing. It has been a truly great leveller.”
While blind people have been using their smartphones to help with directions outside, NICT and Fujitsu hope to use their technology to guide visitors inside buildings. They suggest the technology could be installed in local government buildings or hospitals in the future to improve public safety and security.
Fujitsu said the system “could also be used in museums, libraries, and shopping malls, where contents could be tailored to a user’s location.”
Fujitsu and NICT will demonstrate the new system at the Wireless ICT and research and development event Wireless Technology Park 2012, held July 5-6 at Pacifico Yokohama, Japan.
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