I received this from another list and I found it interesting and I thought
maybe some of you would find it interesting.
Christina
Hi Everyone,
We are a small start-up company based in Toronto called iMerciv Inc. and we
wanted to let people know about the development of our new product that caters
to the orientation and mobility needs of those living with vision loss. The
device has been street tested and very well received by blind and low vision
communities in Canada hence our excitement to let you know about it. The newly
launched BuzzClip is a small wearable device that helps those living with
vision loss with day to day traveling by detecting obstacles in one’s
immediate environment and then notifying the wearer of these obstacles through
intuitive vibrations. It uses ultrasound to detect any obstacle it is pointing
at and vibrates faster and stronger as the obstacle/person gets closer.
The BuzzClip is an electronic device that offers upper body protection that is
sometimes missed by a guide dog or cane. It is not meant to be a replacement
for the cane or a guide dog rather it is supposed to work in tandem with
traditional aids to provide the user more information on their surroundings,
particularly at head level. The BuzzClip can be easily attached to many forms
of clothing (i.e it can be clipped on a lapel of a winter jacket, on a collar,
sleeves (long or short) and the lining of one’s belt) making it a highly
versatile and useful device at an affordable price.
There have indeed been many proximity detectors that came out over the years.
And the earlier ones definitely caused a lot of frustration as the
functionality and reliability were far from advertised. But we have been
working closely and testing our prototypes every step of the way with visually
impaired testers in Canada, the U.S and India. Although we do use the same
ultrasonic technology, the technology has become much more refined over the
years. Also The Buzzclip is not just another ultrasonic proximity detector. The
fact that it is wearable and hands free makes it applicable in a lot more use
cases. Some of our testers have been using it in line ups at coffee shops to
determine when the line is moving forward. Some of them have been using it as a
way finder in tight spaces or crowded rooms by walking in the directions where
the Buzzclip doesn't detect anything. Some have been using it as security by
attaching it behind them, they would know someone is sneaking up on them if the
Buzzclip detects something coming towards them and they don't hear anything.
Some have found it useful as they would be able to tell if the person they are
conversing with got up to get water and when they get back.
It provides extra information on one's surroundings passively and users are
constantly finding new ways to use this extra information.
The BuzzClip is currently available to pre-order on a crowdfunding platform
‘Indiegogo’ for the next 25 days and is being offered at a discounted price
of $129 USD
After this campaign ends on November 22nd, the final batch of BuzzClips will be
manufactured and shipped to our supporters by March of 2016.
More information/videos on our product can be found here:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-buzzclip-wearable-ultrasound-for-the-blind/x/11673979#/
<https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-buzzclip-wearable-ultrasound-for-the-blind/x/11673979>
The link above is our Indiegogo page address and Indiegogo is one of the
largest Crowdfunding website in the world that is based in the United States
just like Kickstarter.
A lot of effort was put into optimizing the user experience of the device.
Limiting it to 1m and 2m modes reduces false positives and only provides
vibratory feedback if there are obstacles or people in your path or coming
directly at you. The device goes to sleep if you are at a fixed distance for
over a few seconds so that it doesn't constantly vibrate if you are talking to
someone for example. It reactivates again if the distance changes for more than
10 cm. So once it is switched on, the user can simply carry on their usual
routine without the need to operate the device constantly. The battery will
last for a full days use (10 hours) on a single charge and it is rechargeable
through a Micro-USB cable. (just like android phones)
Aside from the useability, a lot of thought was put into the design and
aesthetics as well. The Buzzclip is slightly larger than a lighter. The
enclosure is made entirely of aluminum so that it is water resistant and
durable and also very aesthetically pleasing. The device consists of 3 main
sections, a sensor arm that is circular and smaller than the size of an iPod
nano in terms of area. It is connected to the battery enclosure by a metallic
spring clip that is similar to the ones on pocket knives and multi-tools. The
main body is rectangular with rounded edges and is roughly the size of a
lighter. The micro-USB charging port is on the side of the main body. On the
back of the main body is the vibration motor arm which is spring-loaded for
when one is wearing loose clothing. The entire unit has a finish that is
similar to the look and feel of the Apple TV remote. When it is worn, the only
part that will be exposed is the circular sensor arm.
For reference, our press release is on yahoo finance if you search "the
buzzclip" on yahoo finance and we have been featured on Eyes on Mobility,
blind.tech, cool wearable, tech vibes, Cool Blind Tech and CNET. I won't attach
links here, but you can find us on those websites if you need reassurance. The
Founders names are Bin Liu and Arjun Mali and you can reach them +1 (647) 919
6565 for Bin and +1 (647) 919 9269 for Arjun.
Hope this information helps and is useful to some of you. If you have any
questions for us, we would be happy to answer them.
You can contact us at info@xxxxxxxxxxx or give us a call at one of the numbers
provided above.
Thank You & Best Regards,
Arjun Mali
Co-Founder & Chief Financial Officer
iMerciv Inc.
Email: arjunmali@xxxxxxxxxxx . Phone: (647)-919-9269 .
www.imerciv.com
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing”.
Helen Keller
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