A Remote Vision Guidance System: Navigation System for Visually Impaired Pedestrians

This thesis presents the research carried out to investigate and implement a novel navigation system for guidance of visually impaired pedestrians. The prime aim of the newly developed system is to enhance the mobility of visually impaired pedestrians using remote guidance provided by a sighted person. However, the system can be used in many other applications including, unmanned vehicles, military applications, police, etc. The system implementation is based on the integration of the Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographical Information System (GIS) database and a remote vision facility over the third generation (3G) mobile networks, providing a technological platform enabling visually impaired pedestrians to be guided remotely by a sighted guide. The current system will offer an extra degree of freedom to the visually impaired users, by helping them to access a wider environment confidently and with less risk, as the guide in the navigation service centre is always available to help upon the visually impaired individual?s request. The navigation centre operates in a way to provide all the information that might be required by the visually impaired subscribers.