Created Saturday 11 November 2023
Startup Overview
White cane and electronic hearing aid are two most widespread solutions for the blind and the deaf. Today, there are many attempts to develop new accessibility devices, such as electronic glasses and haptic wearables. Unfortunately, these devices usually cost several thousands of dollars and could not be considered affordable. Apart from that, these devices often offer rather limited user experience. High prices and immature use of technology resulted in low adoption rate of these devices.
Radar for the blind and the deaf (RFBD) startup is mainly aimed at providing low-cost accessibility product backed by advanced multi-channel radar technology, a medical device with usefulness recognized by disabled patients, their families and rehabilitation physicians.
Industry Analysis
There have been numerous attempts to use modern sensor technology in accessibility products. Entry barrier is high and the only noticeable success came from image recognition technology, while other attempts failed. Because of repeated failures radar technology is not considered as a viable option for accessibility products.
Both products suffer from small field of view, which greatly limits user experience. Such devices must be pointed to area of interest, which means that disabled person must perform torso movements to obtain sensory information from peripheral areas. Moreover, such products are useless for people with hearing loss. Relatively high price and described limitations prevent these products from gaining popularity.
Recently, image recognition apps for smartphones provide viable alternative for free or at a much lower price (e.g. “Be My Eyes” app for smartphones). Thus, from investor’s perspective, current generation of smart glasses is not an attractive solution. On the contrary, RFBD accessibility device will provide true 360 degree field of sensing, and covers any degree of sight and/or hearing loss.
Product
RFBD is a medical device for rehabilitation and improving quality of life of disabled people in their daily activities. This device helps disabled persons to explore their static surroundings and features of moving objects, such as position, speed and type of movement. Those features are transformed to tactile, audio and visual stimuli. Another unique feature is sensing of modulated reflections from unshielded power supplies and other semiconductor devices. This sensory information may be helpful for navigating through indoor environment.
Potential users
- Fully blind people
- Partially blind people
- People with full hearing loss
- People with partial hearing loss
- Deaf-blind people
RFBD main features
- Blind & deaf friendly
- 360° microwave sensing accompanied by advanced radar signal processing
- Custom-designed radar front-end with 8+ receive channels based on FET resistive mixers (LOW COST)
- Digital proximity, ambient light, RGB color and gesture sensor
- Haptic feedback using SMT vibration motors
- Audio and visual feedback
- Ability to read semi-passive modulated scatter tags
Business Model
According to the World Health Organization, 285 million people worldwide are visually impaired and 1.5 billion live with some degree of hearing loss. RFBD medical device can help both groups. For widest adoption this device must be available through regular channels, such as Amazon, JD other online and offline retail stores. Devices also may be provided for free using charity funding.
Alternative Use
- Radar safety helmet for highway workers, cyclers, etc.
- Low cost module for professional and hobby robotics
- Warehouse positioning radar with semi-passive modulated scatter tags
- Entertainment industry products based on microwave sensing