Theia device replicates functions of a guide dog

Many visually impaired people are content to navigate with tools such as canes, but some are unable to utilise the services of a guide dog due to factors such as allergies, expense or house size.

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Now, Anthony Camu, a final year Industrial Design and Technology student at Loughborough University, has taken inspiration from virtual reality gaming consoles to design a product that replicates a guide dog’s functions.

Camu’s prototype ‘Theia’ is a portable and concealable handheld device that guides users through outdoor environments and large indoor spaces with minimal user input.

In a statement, Camu said Theia – named after the titan goddess of sight – will programme routes to reach destinations and avoids accidents along the way.

To use Theia, a user would input a voice command. As an internet of things (IOT) device, Theia then processes real-time data available online, such as traffic density - pedestrians and cars - and weather, to guide users to their destinations.