The problem posed with blind and visually impaired (BVI) swimmers is one of safety and independence. BVI individuals need to be able to orientate themselves in a swimming pool and avoid obstructions like lane-lines, pool walls and other swimmers for a safe experience. Additionally, it is... Show moreThe problem posed with blind and visually impaired (BVI) swimmers is one of safety and independence. BVI individuals need to be able to orientate themselves in a swimming pool and avoid obstructions like lane-lines, pool walls and other swimmers for a safe experience. Additionally, it is important to BVI swimmers to maintain their independence and maintain a low profile during this experience. The Buoy team will focus on the design, testing and implementation of assistive technology focused on a pool environment with continuous input and feedback from the BVI community. A current passive device created in previous IPROs will be field-tested in a BVI pool for the semester in order to identify failure-modes of the device and collect real-world BVI user feedback to discover areas for improvement. Additionally, two groups have been organized to assess the use of invisible-fence and ultrasound technology in the creation of new assistive technology. Surveys and interviews will be conducted with the BVI community on a continuous basis to ensure the Buoy team is meeting the needs of the market.
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