A novel navigation system for the blinds is developed. A multi-functional navigation system is implemented on the Windows Mobile platform by extracting signals from Global Positioning System (GPS) as well as applying custom-built map sources. The Dijkstra's algorithm is optimized to tackle issues encountered in real-life applications. An external GPS receiver is attached, allowing more accurate localization information to be obtained. The proposed navigation system is designed to provide the visually impaired with detailed information on their geographic location, their walking direction and their surrounding environment. A speech interface is also integrated in the system. Field tests were carried out in an urban community to evaluate the system performance. Results show that the system is easy to master and can provide efficient and useful information for the users' travels.
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