Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru Aug 3: Sahyadri empowers the visually impaired people by the innovation of VL Glass, which is a ray of hope for the visually impaired people. These path-breaking and innovative eyeglasses are conceptualized, researched and designed by RDL Visible Light Communication and Research Center at Sahyadri Innovation Hub at Sahyadri Engineering College.

Addressing the media here on Friday, August 3, CEO of RDL Technologies, Raghavendra Shetty said, "VL Glass works only on visible lights. Visually impaired people can wear this glass and move around without any third party support. People, who are deprived of sight, face lots of challenges while moving from one place to another. This glass will help them in all the ways, providing navigations to move around."

"VL Glass is a simple looking, yet highly advanced glass which a visually impaired person can wear. It is also called as versatile personal mobility assistant. It is a seamless indoor navigator, which helps the person by navigating around the obstacles avoiding mishaps and dangerous objects. It enables the individual to move around with confidence and independence and allows the person to retain his or her self-respect and attitude," he added.

Continuing the details of the unique VL Glasss, Shetty said, "In the frame between the glasses, there is a bridge, on which a sensor is implanted. This sensor is a VILR (Visible Light Infrared Receiver), which receives the signals through visible light communication. On the frames connecting the glasses to the earlobe, there are vibrators on both sides. At the end of the frames, speakers are connected which act as earphones. On the frames connecting earlobes, there is a battery on the left frame and a navigator on the right frame.

"When the person walks under the LED lights which are strategically fixed on the roof of the room, the sensor scans the indoor environment and sends the signal through the vibrator to the person, who wears the glasses and passes instructions through the speakers which are placed at the end of the frames, which fits in the ears of the person. As the person walks under the light cones, the visible light communication enables the communications through the sensor."

"The rooms are fitted with LED bulbs strategically, which automatically switch on as the person moves from one direction to another, through visible light communication technology. As the person passes through the light cones, navigator helps him through instructions to stop or turn or sit as the case may be. Another very interesting point is that it tells the person his position as to where he is in the room. It has the precise 3D positioning system to find his location. People can buy this glass at a reasonable cost of Rs 500," said Raghavendra.

Head of department Electronic and communication, Dr Ashwath Rao, Dr Anush Bekal and others were present.