BeaconSys
BeaconSys leverages off-the-shelf smartphone and global positioning systems to provide support for a rich set of location aware, and context aware mobile applications, including first-responder support, building navigation, retail shopping, smart transportation and more.
BeaconSys comprises a group of researchers from Carnegie Mellon University who, with the guidance of a totally blind member of the team, have collectively developed mobile technologies to enable greater independence for the blind and the visually impaired. Several of BeaconSys' products will have uses in both the blind and sighted communities, but all applications will be developed to be accessible to the blind or visually impaired.
BeaconSys has developed a cellphone-based solution involving an Internet- and Bluetooth-enabled smartphone to assist the visually impaired with grocery shopping at any store and with cooking at home. Its other smartphone-based technologies include a product to help visually impaired users in identifying U.S. currency notes, and another product to help both sighted and visually impaired commuters with their transportation and commute-planning needs. BeaconSys' products are currently undergoing beta evaluation and user studies within the blind and visually impaired communities.
BeaconSys Team:
- Priya Narasimhan, Associate
Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering Department
CEO, BeaconSys, Inc. - Rajeev Gandhi, Systems
Scientist, Electrical & Computer Engineering Department
CTO, BeaconSys, Inc. - Dan Rossi, System Adminstrator, Carnegie Mellon University
Vice-President of Marketing, BeaconSys, Inc.
BeaconSys Presentations:
BeaconSys News:
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Chronicle of Higher Education
Sight for the Blind and Speech for the Deaf
Being Independent for a Reasonable Price - Pittsburgh Business Times: Penguins seek cutting-edge arena ideas. See the KDKA Video (Search for Yinz Cam)
- KDKA: CMU Students Develop 'Talking' Glove
- Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Glove converts sign language into sound
- Pop City: Bluetooth technology offers breakthrough assistance to sight impaired
- Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: System allows blind to "see" to shop


















