Preserving visual information in low resolution images during navigation of visually impaired

This paper presents several important issues related with the preservation and analysis of important image information needed by a visually impaired individual for safe navigation in an indoor environment. The image information is provided to a visually impaired individual, via a 2D Vibration Array (VA), which is part of the Tyflos navigation system and is attached on the individual's abdomen. The system is also consisted of two micro-cameras (hidden in a pair of dark glasses), headphone, microphone and a portable computer. The cameras capture video from the 3D surrounding environment and after stereo vision processing 3D representations are created. These representations are projected on the VA whose 4x4 vibration elements vibrate in various levels corresponding to the distances of the surrounding objects. During this projection appropriate high-to-low resolution algorithms are used in order to make the image mapping onto the VA.