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Project ID:

SCEN02301

Smart Safeguard Cane

Project Title:

Category:

Science and Engineering

Inventors:

Ng Khai Le, Leong Kah Meng, Kang Eng Siew, Siew Zi Yang, Tung Khai Yen, Chan Bun Seng, Ngeu Chee Hau@Yeo Chee Hau

Institution/Company:

Southern University College

Invention Description/ Abstract:

Blindness and vision impairment remains one of the major problems in Malaysia present among the population in substantial percentages. The latest available figures show that there are 180,000 blind and more than half a million living with moderate to severe vision impairment in Malaysia. Vision impairment challenges include access barriers to information, mobility, social interaction, comprehensive support and healthcare. In response to these challenges, an innovative solution “Smart Safeguard Cane” has been developed. The cane has built-in GPS for navigational assistance, a fall detection system with emergency notification alert, and an user-friendly mobile application designed for visually impaired. The app allows users to find such facilities as toilet or bus stops on their own, which improves equality and sense of secure. The most distinctive characteristics of the Safeguard Cane consist of a fall detector that employs IMU sensors, which trigger GPS-based emergency notifications through Bluetooth to emergency contacts. The emergency buttons on cane also ensure safety by producing an alarming sound and getting attention of surrounding people. The mobile application, created with Kodular, allows simple interaction using swipe and tap gestures and includes text-to-speech option. It supports customizable fonts and high contrast visual themes that help the user to navigate through without any assistance so as to enhance independence. Thus, the low-cost Safeguard Cane not only increases the mobility but also provide the second chance for disabled people in Malaysia to gain independency, and it also can achieve the SDG goals 10 to reduce inequalities. The primary goal is to create a Smart Safeguard Cane equipped with navigation and fall detection systems. This cane will be integrated with a user-friendly app designed for individuals with low vision, blindness, the elderly, patients, and hikers in Malaysia.

Invention Technical Description

The Smart Safeguard Cane is equipped with hardware components including a LilyGo microcontroller, GPS, IMU sensor, micro SD card, and battery. This cane provides robust emergency features alongside advanced navigation capabilities, designed to improve safety and independence for visually impaired individuals. A key feature is the integrated fall detector, which continuously monitors user movements through the IMU sensor. The app's "Automatic Emergency Alert System" effectively manages notifications, ensuring swift assistance during emergencies.

The Smart Safeguard App is designed with gesture detection, text-to-speech capabilities, and high-contrast text options, making it especially accessible for users with visual impairments. The user interface is streamlined to allow navigation through swipe and tap gestures anywhere on the screen, removing the need for precise button presses or touches on the phone. The emergency button, equipped with a buzzer function, allows the user to summon assistance when needed.

The app offers visual customization for low vision users, including theme options and font size adjustments for accessibility. The app provides three themes: default black on white, white on black, and yellow on black. These high-contrast visual themes enhance visibility and accommodate different user needs.

During auto-emergency mode, the cane's fall detector triggers GPS data transmission to the mobile app via Bluetooth. Coordinates are converted into Plus Codes, quickly notifying emergency contacts via SMS within seconds.

In conclusion, the Smart Safeguard Cane and Smart Safeguard App empower the blind and visually impaired with advanced navigation features, enhancing independence and safety while saving time and costs. By seamlessly integrating advanced features like GPS, navigation, and intuitive mobile app functionalities, this innovative cane redefines the navigation experience for the blind community.

Demostration/ Presentation Video

Poster/ Broucher/ Invention Photo

Video Link

Poster Link

Additional Documents

> Additional Technical Document
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