[1M5-GS-10] AI application

[1M5-GS-10-05] Investigation of a support system for visually impaired people to eat independently

〇Taro Tokui¹, Yuya Osaki¹, Yukie Nagano¹, Daiki Takamura¹, Yuichi Nagaoka², Yoshimune Hiratsuka³, Satoshi Kurihara¹ (1. Keio University Graduate School of Science and Technology, 2. Tokyo Independent Living Support Center for the Visually Imparied, 3. Juntendo University)

Keywords:Visually impaired, Meal support, cutlery tracking, RGB-D image

Eating is not only important for maintaining health, but also a source of pleasure and social interaction in daily life. However, visually impaired people may experience anxiety and fear due to not being able to identify the location and shape of food, resulting in a decreased enjoyment of meals or even avoidance of dining occasions. While aids such as white canes and braille, as well as smartphones, have been developed to assist visually impaired people with mobility, reading, and writing, the aids available for mealtime remain to merely adjustments in dish placement, color, and shape.Furthermore, many visually impaired people prefer to eat independently without assistance from others, highlighting the need for systems that enable independent dining experiences. This study aims to identify the necessary functions for a system that can assist visually impaired people in eating independently, using a prototype system to evaluate these functions. The prototype system utilizes a depth camera to measure the quantity and positioning of food, and was evaluated by sighted participants who were blindfolded. The results of this study aim to contribute to the development of a system that can support visually impaired people in eating independently.