Johns Hopkins University

Ronald L Stanford

Bliss G Carkhuff

Joseph L Abita

A device which assists those who are visually impaired or handicapped and, in particular, a system for warning blind or visually impaired travelers that they have entered a potentially dangerous area proximal to an edge of boarding platforms of the type typically found in railway and other types of transit systems. An Infrared Integrated Indicating System (IRIIS) includes an array of optical emitters and a portable detector/warning device to be held by a visually handicapped traveler. The emitters create a beam of light which bathes a section of the platform proximal to the platform edge. As the visually handicapped traveler moves into a region of the platform covered by the beam of light, a first indicator, such as sensors in the warning device, is activated and by audio, tactile or other stimuli, alert the visually handicapped traveler of entry into a hazard zone. A second indicator provides additional confirmation to the visually handicapped traveler that doors are open as he or she prepares to board.

Growing community of inventors

Elkridge, MD, United States of America

Ronald L Stanford