Abstract: A system for providing assistance to the visually impaired includes: a first image recognition sensor having a first focusing range; a database of images of everyday articles, objects and shapes, each image taken at a distance of about said first focusing range; means for searching and matching an image recognized by said image sensor with an image stored in said database; and an audio chip of an audio database for orally expressing the identity or subject of a first recognized image. The system further includes a second image recognition sensor having a second focusing range; a database of images of everyday articles and shapes, each image taken at a distance of about said second focusing range; means for searching and matching an image recognized by said image sensor at said second range with an image stored in the database of images for said range; and an audio chip of an audio database for orally expressing the identity or subject of an image recognized by the second database.

Abstract: A system for guiding of the visually handicapped includes a continuous electrical conductor, in the nature of a wire or strip, having a substantially uniform conductivity embedded within a walkway to be traversed by the handicapped person. The system also including a proximity for detecting the conductor in which the detector may be in a shoe of the user or a tip of a walking cane. The system further includes a signalling element, in the nature of a vibrator, in electrical communication with the detector such that, through the presence of such vibration, the visually handicapped person is able to determine his proximity to the electrical conductor to determine that he is proceeding in a proper direction within or along the walkway. The signalling element is preferably provided with a switch, for example, a mercury switch, so that the shoe or cane circuit will become energized only upon the occurrence of movement or motion of the shoe or cane within which the proximity detector is located.

Abstract: A system for guiding of the visually handicapped includes a continuous electrical conductor, in the nature of a wire or strip, having a substantially uniform conductivity embedded within a walkway to be traversed by the handicapped person. The system also including a proximity for detecting the conductor in which the detector may be in a shoe of the user or a tip of a walking cane. The system further includes a signalling element, in the nature of a vibrator, in electrical communication with the detector such that, through the presence of such vibration, the visually handicapped person is able to determine his proximity to the electrical conductor to determine that he is proceeding in a proper direction within or along the walkway. The signalling element is preferably provided with a switch, for example, a mercury switch, so that the shoe or cane circuit will become energized only upon the occurrence of movement or motion of the shoe or cane within which the proximity detector is located.