It will. The main problem was location and orientation of the user. Once he is at the rail both are fixed. Therail has a fm transmitter which is broadcasting it's location and neighbouring locations but at a low power so the info is recieved only a meter or 2 near the rail. The info will provide very acurate info like go right for worli naka, cross road for nehru science center, bus stop is to the left etc. You need to restrict the reception area because a person accross the road is oriented differently and will get a slightly different set of info. The system is non interactive and the reciever is any fm reciever.
Well, if the system is a bit interactive, some more things can be done to assist the blind person. I am compiling a document which I will post soon. and if the hand held device can do a little bit more at the control of the user then lot of things can be done.
not needed. Just face the railing to be correctly postioned.
well if the buttons are there it will be perfect. because blind people will get that extra bit of judgement. but if it is certain that the blind person will always be in a correct position then it is ok. but I need to take this up as a research. some small things in the interfacing make a lot of difference.
The problem here is that how does the post identify the device to which it has to broadcast?
There is no post. Or maybe a post which only announces it's location > and recieveable upto 50 mtr. Carrier of post and rail are different.
the conclusion for the distance will need some study.
His fm radio is already tuned to a fixed frequency (alloted by govt throught India - maybe the world by ITU) when he reaches the junction he will get brief info about the neighbourhood from the rail. At the same time someone is on the opposite footpath and also wants to go to Ceat building. He too walks up to his rail and recieves a different set of instructions to go to the same location from the Holy rail. As are others on different rails. One just waits a little to recieve the endlessly txd message. Each rail has it's own independent electronics not linked to any thing else.
if we actually follow the idea of identifying the person and sending proper signel then it will be much better. we can even think of giving some better customisation to the blind person. the interface for which needs some brain storming. like for example if he regularly visits a particular place the system may as well give him only that information which is needed. how this can be worked out I will let every one know after I discuss it with a couple of IIT scientists because I have a meeting on coming mumday for some other project. Krishnakant.