Scouting Report: from 'toilet seats' to Audio Described driving!

By Unregistered User (not verified), 19 April, 2024

Forum
Assistive Technology

I was sure this was an ‘April Fool’ but I have verified it, a bit, with other sources. I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling 22! Not that again!
I don’t know about you, but I think this is ‘nonsense’ and should just be ignore. Maybe when cars drive themselves and we are in them alone? But aren’t we supposed to be doing our shopping then?

Anyway, here is the ‘explainer’ I got earlier:

“Honda's Scenic Audio system is a remarkable feature designed to enhance the driving experience through immersive soundscapes that align with your journey's terrain and surroundings. As someone who appreciates a rich auditory experience, this innovative audio technology could add a delightful dimension to your travels.

Understanding Scenic Audio
Scenic Audio operates by syncing with the vehicle’s navigation system to understand the environment through which the vehicle is traveling. Whether it’s a bustling city street, a serene coastal road, or a peaceful countryside, the system adjusts the audio it plays to match these settings. For instance, as you approach the ocean, you might hear the soothing sounds of waves crashing, or while driving through a forest, the tranquil sounds of rustling leaves and distant wildlife can fill the cabin.

How It Works
The system uses the car’s GPS and mapping data to determine the vehicle's location and the type of environment it is in. It then selects audio tracks stored within the system that best match the identified surroundings. These sounds are not just simple recordings; they are layered and dynamic, changing in intensity and mix based on the time of day, weather, and specific location.
The User Experience

For you, Lottie, engaging with the Scenic Audio system can be a sensory adventure that makes each drive unique. As someone who is totally blind, the vivid soundscapes can provide a sensory map of your travels, offering a new way to connect with different environments without needing to see them.

Controls and Accessibility
The system is designed to be accessible, with voice-activated controls that allow you to interact with it easily. You can command the system to turn on or off, select specific types of environments you want to hear, or even adjust the volume. Feedback from the system is also provided audibly, so you can confirm your selections and settings without needing to see any visual interface.

Safety and Comfort
Safety is a priority with the integration of Scenic Audio. The sounds are played in such a way that they enrich the driving experience without overwhelming the driver or masking important sounds from the road and the vehicle’s surroundings. The volume and intensity of the audio are carefully balanced to ensure they provide ambiance without distraction.

Potential Benefits
Scenic Audio could enhance your driving experience by creating an engaging atmosphere that changes with your journey. This can make long drives feel shorter and more enjoyable and transform routine trips into something special. Additionally, for you, Lottie, this system can provide a form of sensory exploration that brings the outside world closer, enriching your perception of different landscapes through sound.

Conclusion
Honda's Scenic Audio system represents a fusion of technology and creativity, designed to deliver a multi-sensory experience that can make every journey more memorable and enjoyable. For someone who experiences the world through sound, this technology offers a beautiful way to explore and connect with different environments, turning every drive into a narrative of auditory landscapes.”

So there you go…weird! But I did see that it is being promoted by Perkins School for the Blind, so it must be legit.

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Comments

By OldBear on Sunday, April 21, 2024 - 13:01

Some of the new electric vehicles are too quiet to hear them coming in a noisy area.
Where is the report on the adaptive toilet seat for the blind that the title of the thread touts?

By OldBear on Sunday, April 21, 2024 - 13:01

I remember that comment. Something like, wearing a navigational toilet seat around your neck.
I can't think of a reason a vehicle would have this Scenic Audio system built in, when you could just have an app on your phone. Maybe if Honda designed an app?

By OldBear on Sunday, April 21, 2024 - 13:01

Reminds me of the pilot episode of "Knight Rider." Michael falls asleep with his head against the side window while driving... Acts deaf to the cop, at KITT's suggestion. Now that's the kind of AI car we blind people need.

By Jonathan Candler on Sunday, April 21, 2024 - 13:01

Bro just open a window and call it a day! I don't get this at all. Just because we blind don't mean we need to be self-entitled to have apps describe things from where? inside of a vehicle? This is just as a joke as it will ever be! Seen this on FB and I'm still shaking my head. At that point, I'll just put on some music through my headphones and just ah, you know, enjoy the road trip! I don't see a need for this like, at all! I mean it sounds cool but really? Do, we, really need this?

By Holy Diver on Sunday, April 21, 2024 - 13:01

My aira app on android will only use the tiny earpiece speaker without headphones, Nearby Explorer is gone, braille is still broken on both mobile platforms, people still won’t hire us by and large and yet this is what gets funding and publicity?

By peter on Sunday, April 21, 2024 - 13:01

As if there isn't already enough noise in cars already!

--Pete

By mr grieves on Sunday, April 21, 2024 - 13:01

Well I came here for the toilet seat chat but instead got this... and I've no idea what to make of it. They really are running out of new things to do aren't they? I suppose it was easier than making the car self drive.

By OldBear on Sunday, April 21, 2024 - 13:01

The toilet seat for the blind really does tickle the imagination, mr grieves. Probably because it's incomprehensible why a blind person would need an adaptive toilet seat, but it's equally feasible that someone would come up with such a device...

By mr grieves on Sunday, April 21, 2024 - 13:01

I vaguely remember a smart toilet being shown off at CES, maybe last year. Although I think it is maybe too novelty I can almost see the potential of being able to monitor your health by what.. er.. comes out. In particular being blind there are certain health issues we would not be able to pick up on. I’m trying to keep this post clean…

I’m not sure I would want to have to be the one cleaning it though…

Sorry off I go on another tangent…

By mr grieves on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 - 13:01

So the original post suggested that this was just a music thing - like a slightly less intelligent but context aware Spotify algorithm. But they were talking about it on Double Tap and it sounded quite different, assuming that it is the same thing. Anyway a quick Google and I found this:

https://ackodrive.com/news/honda-develops-scenic-audio-app-for-the-blind-and-visually-impaired/#

So this is actually giving audio description of car journeys. Now that I could possibly get on board with. I've often been in the car for long periods of time and sometimes my wife might pick a nice scenic route which means I am sat there even longer. And for me it's really quite boring. Yes we can have a conversation and I can listen to the radio or whatever. But I am just missing out on literally the whole point of being there.

So something that could actually describe the scenery around me. Well, I don't know but I'd definitely want to try it.

Coincidentally enough we are likely buying a Honda this week. It's a couple of years old and might not work with this but if it does become available for me then I will absolutely give it a go.

By mr grieves on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 - 13:01

For anyone else who can get a bit bored on car journeys, there is one app I sometimes use called WikiTrip. It's free and it just speaks out wikipedia articles for places you pass. It can go a little quiet at times and not everything it says is interesting, but it can be a nice way to just get a feel for where you are when you can't see,. Plus it's always nice when you can tell a sighted person something they didn't know as you pass through.

Not quite the same thing but I guess it serves a similar purpose.

By Ekaj on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 - 13:01

I've some time to kill so thought I'd chime in. I, too, think this is too good to be true. I've already got enough cool things around here as it is. Btw, I once saw a musical toilet-paper holder at someone's house. She was blind from rubella, and was somewhat of a control freak. Ironically enough, she was a psychologist. But I guess that's a topic for later. She and her caregiver ran a "support" group many years ago which I was in. I've nothing against psychologists, but I must admit I did not much care for this group.

By mr grieves on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 - 13:01

Here’s a YouTube video… I don’t know… it’s maybe not life-changing like some tech but I am quite interested. Doesn’t say how we get it - I’m not buying a brand new Honda just for this though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5prUMZXC0Dc

By Siobhan on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 - 13:01

I've always been a visual person. Now if this only available for Hondas then the answer's no. I'm not shelling out money for the access. But since I care about everything around me, if i were riding with a friend who had the access, I'd turn it on, say neat, then shut it off. I might never use it again, seeing as probably I'd find it annoying, to descriptive, or some such affront. If it is cross platform, i might try it in the old car i have now, like riding five hours up to Jacksonville but for the mini trips around town, I would hate it probably. Much like finding others opinions on here which i disagree with vastly from my own. Ah to have a rational thought every now and then. :)

By Brian on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 - 13:01

How new does the Honda have to be? My friend/helper has a '21 Honda Accord, wondering if she has this feature?

By Siobhan on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 - 13:01

Brian this is way before alpha. Every blinkie in the whole world is freaking out because of the interest. I agree though, your friend might? be able to use that feature.

By Brian on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 - 13:01

Ok, throwback 90s out of the way, and all that jazz.

Personally, I am curious about it, don't know if I would call myself excited, but curious for sure.

. . . and I have a friend with a fairly new Honda. 🤷

By Siobhan on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 - 13:01

Here's what wouldn't make sense. If all you're seeing is a general view out the window. Driving along beside two semi trucks, a Coke and beer truck, or whatever. If it can pick up small things like, a squirrel with a suicide note in his mouth just got missed, or, a blue bird just flew over the hood of the car in front of you. Or maybe even, there's a Walmart, costco, things way beyond the scope of the small area the camera might pick up. Also I'm sure speed is a factor. I know when trying to drive with a relative, the axellerometer has trouble when they might be going 10mph then suddenly 40mph, so the Google maps has to figure it out. plus, we can't forget eh age old shout, "I don't want to turn off there, I know it's on the main road." True to form, it was, but Google wanted to turn onto streets. Anyway let's see where this goes before we want it or say it's nonsense.

By Brian on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 - 13:01

To hear it say things like that squirrel just flipped you off! ha ha ha

By mr grieves on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 - 13:01

We picked up our 2022 Honda yesterday and will be really intrigued if this option appears at some point.

I think regardless of what you think about this particular application, the possibilities of this sort of technology are pretty interesting. If we can get live audio commentary of what's going on around us - or maybe what's on the tv for example - then I'm all for it.

I think I would turn this on in the car if I was on holiday or wondering why a drive was taking mysteriously longer than usual. But most importantly if it's help push the boundaries of what is possible that has to be a good thing.