A kinetic compass would grant the user the ability to feel which direction they are facing. This simple and non-obstructive compass could be worn by an individual to grow an intuition for the sensation of north instead of needing to see the direction of north.
After some use, the device should help to integrate a passive sense of cardinal direction to users thereby extending their own navigational skills and intuition.
Something that technology provides us is the extension of our senses; apps and widgets on our smartphones and smartwatches provide us with the weather throughout the day, just the same as helping us locate precious items with finder apps. Knowing more about your environment through quick access technology essentially extends our senses.
Smart devices, however, are quite restrictive toward those with sight impairments. One of these ‘extended senses’ that we believe would benefit the blind in daily navigation and those interested in activities like camping would be a passive sense of cardinal direction.
Some experienced campers are very capable of navigating on their own using the environment, but this device could enable even inexperienced campers to navigate confidently. We hope it would be a desirable product for beginners or intermediates to camping or hiking.
(Possibility 1) Variable vibrations that interact with geographic hardware components to indicate directions
(Possibility 2) Glove-like form factor, a small ring module could be woven onto the back of hand and a small marble could apply light pressure to the direction you are facing corresponding to the ring.
Algorithms used in smart devices would need to be used to determine wearer’s orientation just from their wrist placement.
If we desire a simple design, this has implications that it may operate better as an ankle device.
We need to gather feedback on whether a hand or ankle device would be less disruptive in the day to day
The cost of this device may boil down to hardware prices and how expensive it would be to make the product smaller and possibly flexible. (i.e. Digital Compass Modules, flexible PCB’s, etc.)
At minimum a microcontroller or FPGA, some form of haptic feedback device that can be controlled on demand, and a custom PCB design will be required.
The total cost of the bill of materials for a single prototype may end up being in the ballpark of $100 to $300.
Projects that require the design of unique embedded systems (Digital and Analog)
Designing communication strategies between already existing devices/systems