ASSISTIVE SENSOR SUNGLASSES DEVICE WITH VOICE COMMAND FUNCTION: A PROPOSAL

Abstract

Assistive technology has been designed to aid individuals who are blind or visually impaired, greatly enhancing their quality of life. Despite these advancements, many devices still offer limited functionality. Navigational devices, in particular, have become a key area of research due to the growing number of visually impaired individuals. While assistive technology has made significant strides in improving daily living for the visually impaired, there remains a need for more advanced and versatile solutions to fully address their needs. The study utilized a quantitative-descriptive research approach with purposive sampling. A survey questionnaire served as the research instrument to evaluate the acceptability of the proposed model based on materials, procedural methodology, physical design, sensor accuracy, and presentation. To assess the differences in evaluations between the two respondent groups, a t-test was applied. The results of the evaluation of the proposed model indicate that it was considered “Acceptable” across all criteria: materials, procedural methodology, physical design, sensor accuracy, and presentation. IT Specialists rated the model with a weighted mean of 3.33 and a variance of 0.160, yielding a t-computed value of 1.1022 with 8 degrees of freedom and a t-critical value of 2.306 (α = 0.05). Meanwhile, Computer Engineers rated it with a weighted mean of 3.12 and a variance of 0.020, also resulting in a t-computed value of 1.1022 with 8 degrees of freedom and a t-critical value of 2.306 (α = 0.05). Based on these results, the assessments from both respondent groups are considered acceptable, and no significant difference was found between their evaluations. To improve the study, respondents offered the following suggestions: For increased comfort, one respondent recommended attaching the device to the cane to make it more convenient for visually impaired users. Furthermore, it was suggested that the buzzer be replaced with a vibrating device to reduce noise and prevent any potential hearing complications.