Development of Smart Glove System for Blind People

Abstract

In 2010, the Department of Welfare estimated to have about 64,000 registered blind people in Malaysia and believed that the number increased as much as two times higher by 2020. Over the years, the tools typically used by blind people are stick and guide dogs. Blind people use a stick around their feet to detect the presence of an object. However, by using this method, blind people can only detect the object that is closer to them. Some blind people use trained dogs to assist them in their movement. Again, by using this technique, their mobility is also limited since they must depend on the dog. Recently, several electronic travel aids (ETA) have been designed by using several techniques and sensors to ease this group of disabled people. ETA is the common equipment that has been used by blind people to guide their movement from one place to another. Thus, a smart glove system for blind people is proposed in this research as an additional tool to the existing ETA. This system is developed by using Arduino ATMega328, ultrasonic sensors, a vibrating motor, and a buzzer. C language is implemented in microcontroller design. The performance of the designed system is analyzed by using a ping test and mobility test based on the distance range between the wall, which functions as the obstacle to the sensor. The results show that the closer the distance range, the higher the reading of motor vibration and buzzer beeping rate.