The problem posed with blind and visually impaired (BVI) swimmers is one of safety and independence. BVI individuals need to be able to... 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. Deliverables Show less
Our mission is to develop, test, and implement assistive technology with the community that promotes safety and improves independence of blind... Show moreOur mission is to develop, test, and implement assistive technology with the community that promotes safety and improves independence of blind and visually impaired (BVI) swimmers. Deliverables Show less
This IPRO is working on the problem of creating an assistive device that will help blind and visually impaired (BVI) individuals exercise in a... Show moreThis IPRO is working on the problem of creating an assistive device that will help blind and visually impaired (BVI) individuals exercise in a swimming pool and elsewhere with increased independence and also to present this technology to the community in a way that is usable to them. In the interest of achieving both of these goals the team has organized its structure into a technology team and a communication team, so that once the device has been created the methodology for teaching the community to use it will already be tested and approved. Deliverables Show less
