Study of a portable traveling support system using image processing for the visually impaired

Abstract

This paper describes a portable traveling support system that uses image processing to aid the visually impaired. We have already previously proposed a portable navigation system for time visually impaired. However, there are some places where this system is unable to provide the proper guidance. Since the travel direction of the user of this system is measured by a terrestrial magnetic sensor, there is a possibility that time wrong direction is measured, due to a distortion of the terrestrial magnetism caused by vehicles, etc. Road markings, e.g., pedestrian crossings, white lines of roadways, are reliable information that can be used to measure the correct direction. Furthermore, landmarks, e.g., electric poles, traffic-control signs and postal boxes, are also useful for a traveler to confirm his position. Therefore, we applied image processing to our portable navigation system to make it more reliable.