Microsoft’s tech won’t replace the hard-working guide dog, or even a cane, but it has potential to enrich people’s lives. It’s also hoped the headset will increase spontaneity, independence, and mobility. The Cities Unlocked project wants to change that using its augmented reality headset, and in these early tests 62 percent of wearers felt safer, and more confident when wearing it. According to research, there are 180,000 people with sight loss in the UK who find it too stressful to leave their homes. The headset appears to be a modified version of Aftershokz Bluez headphones, and has GPS, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope inside, so it knows which way the wearer is facing, and if they turn their head.Ĭurrently only a prototype, the headset is being paired with a Lumia 930 and Lumia 1520 for tests, which have been taking place along a specially designed route between London and nearby city Reading. Because some of the audio map is generated using Bing and Google maps, it can provide contextual information along the way, including street names, points of interest, public transport locations, shops, and even details on road works. The sound is directional and alters in pitch and tone, so it can be used to lead someone to their destination, much like a digital guide dog.
3d noise mapping Bluetooth#
Once it is paired with a Windows Phone mobile device, it picks up signals from Bluetooth beacons spread around the city, and creates a 3D audio map using a combination of clicks, beeps, and verbal descriptions. The headset doesn’t cover your ears, but uses bone-conducting audio to ensure you’re always aware of your surroundings. It’s part of a project called Cities Unlocked, where Microsoft has teamed up a wide variety of other companies, including the Guide Dogs for the Blind charity in the UK, and wearable tech specialists AfterShokz. Microsoft has been working on developing a headset which will create a sound map of a city, to help blind and partially sighted people better navigate through their surroundings.
This information is proving critical to the Scottish government’s strategic approach to address noise exposures. Our unique prioritization scoring tool makes it possible to identify where to take action first by pinpointing areas where the most people are affected by noise. The noise maps resemble heat diagrams with clear hotspots indicating areas with the greatest noise, making it easier to understand and accurately interpret information at a glance. The result significantly improved output graphics by producing noise contours for the maps and helping to automate the data handling at multiple stages by streamlining detailed spreadsheets that contained information about noise exposure on each property.
3d noise mapping software#
Our approach integrated traditional 3D noise mapping software with a geographical information system tool.
The tool created a functional map that better interpreted areas of greatest need for noise abatement. Our scope of services also included data collection and preparation, noise modeling and strategic noise map generation and analysis. In Scotland, noises caused from road, rail and air traffic, and industrial activities are required to meet END compliance.ĪECOM developed an automated noise mapping tool to help the Scottish government track noise levels and ensure compliance across the country, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Dundee. The action plans are intended to preserve the environmental noise quality of those areas with desirable levels, while reducing levels in areas where there is a potential for negative impact. Noise modeling and mapping need to be addressed in agglomerations-areas of dense population or industrial activity.
END’s objectives determine a population’s exposure to noise through mapping, provide public access to environmental noise information, and establish action plans based on the mapping results. To regulate noise levels in dense populations, the European Union and the European Parliament enacted the Environmental Noise Directive (END) in 2002.
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