Radio frequency identification aiding the visually impaired

US6977579B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Michael Gilfix · Austin, US
• Jerry Walter Malcolm · Austin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 6, 2003
• Grant date: Dec 20, 2005
• Expiry date: Jan 26, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61H2201/5005
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Radio frequency identification aiding the visually impaired, including receiving in an electronic travel aid (“ETA”) for the visually impaired, from a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag associated with an object, information that describes the object and displaying a description of the object through an interface for a visually impaired person. Information that describes the object may include at least one of a predefined set of attributes that describe the object. Many embodiments include retrieving, in dependence upon a unique identification code, further information describing the object—either locally from an ETA or through a network from a remote store of information.