This project brings together a team of technologists from MakeSense Technology Limited, researchers from Imperial College London and qualified end-users from Bravo Victor. We are tackling issues associated with the condition of blindness using a new and innovative approach.
Modern computer vision is sophisticated, and augmented reality applications such as snapchat filters or pokemon go, can map, track and overlay onto environments in real-time. However, this technology to map the world around us has not found widespread use within the visually impaired community. The problem lies in communicating useful information to someone who cannot see or perhaps has never seen. We are developing a new capability to deliver useful spatial information which is derived using computer vision. If our ambitions are realised, our technology will deliver life-changing improvements to mobility and independence for millions of people internationally.
Before we can commercially deploy this technology, it needs to be rigorously evaluated by qualified end-users to ensure that it is effectively addressing their needs. As part of this project, Bravo Victor, the sister charity of Blind Veterans UK, will give early adopters the chance to test it and offer feedback. For a product which depends entirely on user experience the value of this partnership cannot be overstated. Imperial College is hosting our industrial research. We aim to finish this project with a prototype product that is ready to enter the certification process for sale as a medical device in the UK and abroad.