At Wireless Japan 2010, the Nakajima Laboratory at the University of Electro-Communications exhibited a prototype Wearable Personal Navigation System.
"This is a navigation device shaped like a pair of glasses. The inside of the frame has LEDs set into it in a circular pattern, and these LEDs provide information by lighting up in the user's peripheral field of vision. This part of the frame is a magnetic direction sensor, which detects the orientation of the user's head. When that happens, the position of the illuminated LED changes, showing which direction the destination is in. If the user goes in that direction, they'll arrive at their destination."
The frame of the sunglasses contains a battery and microcomputer as well as the LEDs and a direction sensor. To use it the user first inputs the destination. Then GPS detects the current position, and the direction sensor detects which way the user is facing. In this way, the system guides the user to the destination.
In pedestrian trials run by the Nakajima Lab, it's been confirmed that this system gets people to their destination safely.
"With most current navigation systems, you have to look at a handset display as you walk. Looking at the screen while walking can be dangerous. But with this system, all you need to do is be aware of the LED light while you walk. So you can look where you're going, and walk safely at the same time."
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WIRELESS JAPAN 2010
