One of my first posts for AccessTechGeek was about a project at Virginia Tech that involves creating cars for the blind to drive.
Here is the post if you’re interested: One Step Closer to Creating Cars for the Blind to Drive
Virginia Tech has further developed a car that the blind and partially sighted can actively drive themselves.
You should definitely check out their video that explains the devices they have created that allow drivers to make driving decisions and navigate.
Here’s the link to the website with the video: http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2011/06/20/the-future-of-interaction-design-is-born-from-a-car-for-the-blind/.
I can’t tell you how excited I am about this. It is a HUGE step in independence for the blind. It would be great not to worry about whether I can get from point A to point B. As I’ve pointed out before, it takes much more time and people to make a trip happen because I can’t drive a car. The US is so car centric. I am hopeful that with the recent rise in gas prices, there will be more initiatives to create light rails and pedestrian and bike friendly cities.
