Image Credit : Interactive Architecture Lab
Project Overview
Sarotis: Wearable Futures functions as a second-skin that uses 3-D vision technology to help heighten the user's awareness of his or her surroundings.
Organisation
Interactive Architecture Lab The Bartlett School of Architecture
Team
Research conducted by Ava Aghakouchak, Maria Paneta
Research supervised by Ruairi Glynn (IALab Director), Vincent Hygh, Fiona Zisch
Project Brief
Through its depth perception and object recognition technologies, Sarotis' most obvious application is to assist those with vision impairments by using gentle pressure to guide users away from curbs, walls, or other obstacles.
Project Need
Sarotis uses soft robotics combined with depth sensors to create a prosthetic technology that works in tandem with Google's Project Tango technology.
Using depth sensing, motion tracking, and area learning technologies, Sarotis allows smartphones or other compatible devices to 'see' their surrounding environments in 3-D. The data is then translated into a tactile response, inflating or exerting pressure to guide users.
The product is made from a soft, breathable fabric which wraps around the body to create a barely perceptible second skin.
Project Marketing
The Sarotis: Wearable Futures trial runs have been a great success so far. The first round of trials saw participants navigate an empty room with an invisible path drawn in it using Project Tango, whilst blindfolded. Whilst wearing the Sarotis technology, participants were able to navigate the maze with ease and were able to reproduce it fairly accurately through drawings afterward.
Digital - IoT
The Internet of Things has the power to reshape our world, as there is endless opportunity as we start to connect people to things, things to things and people to people. What will stand out in IoT are those that create a seamless experience and make the ordinary extraordinary.
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