The Emerald Computer System
Heat Distance and Color
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I have built about half a dozen computer systems. Each has taught me much. Each made me want to build a better system and try new concepts. The most recent is the Emerald system. It can detect a hot cup of coffee. It can detect the distance to an object. It also has an 8 megapixel camera (like the camera in your phone). These are just three of a huge range of useful sensors the blind may wish to use.
Consider places a blind person might use the Emerald system. In the hotel room, the camera color sensor helps select their clothes. Then as they walk down the corridor, the distance sensor tells the depth of the openings in the side wall. The big opening is the elevator. In the lobby, the distance sensor finds the front desk and the heat sensor finds the clerk. In the breakfast room the heat sensors finds the serving trays and coffee urn and keeps the person away from the hot waffle iron. Going to a table the distance sensor again finds a table and chairs and the heat sensor tells which chairs are empty.
The above senerio is a thought experiment. The real learning comes when the Emerald system is in the hands of the blind. Unfortunately getting all systems to work simultaneously is a great challenge. This is a reason for the Bii Board. Each sensor system can be tested separately and the board provides much of the hard work in the basic electrical connections, the packaging, the physical support, and the fixturing for the handle.
The Emerald printed circuit board is shown below surrounded by a jeweler's saw. The region to the left of the circuit board will be separated from the main board and used to hold eight rocker switches. (I like using a jeweler's saw with a piercing blade to separate pc boards.) On the main circuit board the 2x20 row of pins on the bottom is used to connected to the Raspberry Pi computer. Above these holes and to the right are the connections for the heat sensor and above and to the left are the connections for the distance sensor.
Printed Circuit Board for the Emerald @Emer_Saw5.jpeg
Below is shown the printed circuit boards loaded with components. To the left are the rocker switches for communication. The user can move these switches to communicate ones wishes to the computer system. These rocker switches were soldered into the piece on the left that was separated from the main board. The cable connecting the computer to the 8 Meg camera is also shown on the left running through the notch of the main board. Next is the distance sensor, and then the heat sensor. The holes just above the heat sensor can be used to run the I2C bus to other boards.
A View of the Emerald Board with Components is Shown Above @Emer_Front1-5.jpeg
The assembled front view of the Emerald is shown below. The Raspberry Pi computer plugs into the back of this board.
The Assembled Front View of the Emerald Board @Emer_Front2.jpeg
A side view of the Emerald system is shown below (rotated from above picture). The sensors and printed circuit board is on the top, the computer is on the bottom. The socked below the computer has extra long pins, to connect with other boards, and gives room to help dissipate the heat from the computer. You can see, this is the first prototype, and everything has been pushed and squeezed.
A Side View of the Emeralds System. @Emer_Side5.jpeg
Below is shown the assembled Emerald system, the package and the battery. A utility board hasn't been designed yet. It contains the power supply, the audio channels, the shutdown electronics, and the sockets needed to comunicate with the outside world. This utility board plugs into the socket shown, which appears on the upper right of the computer.
The Assembled Emerals system, the package and the battery. @Emer_Bat5.jpeg
The Emerald system is significantly smaller than earlier systems and explores some new sensor systems. Using other new technologies, I think it can be made even smaller. I also want to explore multiple computer systems. For example, a keyboard on the handle of a white cane, distance sensors on the tip of a white cane, an Emerald system on a belt buckel, a GPS system and a cell phone system on the belt. But really, the actual design should depend upon the users preferences.
There are so many excitings things to try. And newly available sensors and microcomputers make more possible. I'm itching to have a go.
Cheers,
William