Visual Impairment Assistance System

Abstract

Visual disability is the loss of vision that cannot be rectified through surgical procedures, contact lenses, or ordinary spectacles. The spectrum of vision impairment includes total blindness as well as complete blurriness of one's vision. Currently, around 217 million people globally live with partial vision loss, while approximately 36 million are completely blind. Individuals with visual impairments often face difficulties in reading, mobility, accessing visual information, securing employment, and navigating independently. Their inability to see limits their ability to fully perceive and interact with the world, unlike those with normal vision. With the advancement of artificial intelligence and sensor technologies, innovative solutions have emerged to support the visually impaired. This project introduces a system that leverages a smartphone camera to assist blind or low-vision users in understanding their surroundings. Using a Single Shot Detector (SSD) model, the system can identify objects being held, and includes additional features such as text recognition and product identification. Our objective is to increase visually impaired human's confidence and assure so they can manage their environment more effectively and improving their overall quality of life.