My freind Simon and his wife Sian came to visit us at work inMunuch. Simon is a blind ultramarathon runner I met at an IBM conference wearler this year. It was really great hosting the two of htem here today. My freinds John, David and I had worked for several hours yesterday workign an ultrasonic obstacle avoidance prototype yesteray and we were eager to have simon try it out. He’s trying to figure out a way to run a marthon like boston or NYC without a guide.. and he needs a way to ‘see’ other poeple in his path

the device is just a simple maxbotic ultrasonic rangefinder attached to a partical photon all on a velcro strap taht attached to simns chest. . Its controlled  via a mobile app we created in BLYNK. it works surprisingly well … As you get within a threshold distance it starts to vibrate.. the closer an obsitcal comes, the fasterit vibrates.. .. here’s simon walkign around he office without hitting things.. it needs to be a little faster.. and a little more aggressive in the vibration.. overall.not bad for an initial prototype

 

 

simon is pretty amazing.. ..so is Sian. they are both writing books.. his is about beig a blind runner pushing the bounds of techology.. hers is a kids book about bears..

 

i’m really glad to get to know them both !

Gotta sleep now..

night all,nightsam

-me