Humane
is virtual sensory software platform that allows visually impaired
users to perform tasks on their smartphones which they can’t perform
normally.
Humane was developed by Victor Shoaga, Ayodele
Obasegun, Oyatope Blessing and Otaru Babatunde, all students of
Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo
University, as a presentation for the 2014 Microsoft Imagine Cup. This
accounts for why it is still only available on the Windows Phone
platform at the moment. However, the team decided to take it to the next
level by making improvements that will make it more widely accepted, of
which includes compatibility with other platforms.
Humane makes
smartphone operation easier for the visually impaired. It helps them
select music files, play selected videos (though they can only listen),
surf the web, set or check the time, the list goes on.
Humane, as
it is, is an application software (not available for public download).
It was developed for companies who are prospective buyers to add their
own modifications to it, although individual buyers will still find it
useful as it is.
How Humane Works
Humane is a
software that comes with a manual controller .The software itself is
downloaded into the user’s phone and then the user is given the
controller and an identification number. The identification number is
entered into the software for compatibility with the controller, meaning
only one controller is able to work with a single software. The manual
controller has two dongles for scrolling and a central “select” button,
making its operation as easy as can be.
The Humane controller is
durable, potable, easy to operate and light. The app also has a voice
guide to notify when Humane has been successfully activated but the
biggest merit is that for an app they can do so much, it connection is
simply by Bluetooth – the same way two phones are connected for file
sharing.
Challenges
Seeing as it is an extreme
useful app, Humane has only a handful of challenges to overcome on it’s
way to becoming widely accepted. For one, it is still only available on
the Windows Phone platform, although plans are in place to roll it out
on other platforms, so there’s no reason to bother.
Also, the
manual controller has low ubiquity. Only a few controllers have been
produced and as such, there is still a difficulty with dealing with the
demand that will arise when Humane becomes widely known.
Another
challenge faced on the part of the controller is it’s design. The
controller is still in it’s prototype stage so it’s a bit bulky. But it
works.
Summary
Humane is a whole platform on it’s
own. It’s developers are working round the clock to add improvements and
other uses, one of which is the Internet Of Things (IOT) module, which
will allow visually impaired users to control appliances in their homes
and Obstacle, which can notify a visually impaired operator against
colliding with an oncoming obstruction to his path.
Verdict
Humane
is perhaps the most useful software I have seen in a long time. It’s
usefulness cannot be overemphasized and it’s on it’s way to truly
becoming a global phenomenon.
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