Blind can finish the marathon alone GPS accuracy to 5 m

In the case of invisible wanted to run a marathon or even a terrorist: hordes of runners from your side zips,play Elsa Games roadside crowd screaming, and you do not know will not hit the person in front . But 31-year-old Simon Whitney Croft - The British Blind Monday ran the marathon - this feeling is very excited. "I want to embrace it all," he said, "I want to feel the sound of cheering other runners and the crowd." Marathon organizers to each blind runners with a leading member of the leader who will keep the same speed, sometimes even with a rope connected to the runners. Despite Monday when benefits Croft accompanied by two leading members, but he intends to finish a marathon final independence. "Independent running idea has been lingering in the back of my mind," Hui Croft said, "I dreamed for this for four years. It took me a long time to psychologically accept the concept. " He believes that science and technology is to make his dream come true key. He noted that the market has been able to help many visually impaired runner tools - such as sophisticated GPS navigation and motion sensors. They only need to be packaged into a custom tool on the line. Last month, the benefits Croft has been working with IBM to develop a stand-alone allow him to complete the marathon route navigation of iPhone applications. He first tested the application in Monday's marathon. Whenever he too left or too far right, it will send out a small signal to remind him, so he does not have to worry about wandering route. "I can enjoy this game. I can hear the cries of the crowd," Hui Croft said, "this application only deviation in my time reminding me. Other times it's very quiet." Running Blind Hui Croft found she had a degenerative eye disease at the age of 13, the age of 17 he completely lost his sight. Before he tried to run, he first tried mountaineering. He had been at the top of a mountain of California to marry his girlfriend romantic idea. However, when he began mountaineering trip, he found the climb up than he imagined to be much more difficult. Along the way to avoid many dangerous cliffs and cracks; there are too many factors that can lead to injuries. Eventually, he was forced to marry his girlfriend on the hillside, despite his girlfriend promised, he still had a sense of frustration. "Just because too difficult," Hui Croft said, "but then I had to face the fact - I was forced to give up mountaineering I therefore very troubled.." The couple returned to the UK, the benefits Croft decision, he will never give up any challenge because of blindness. At that time, one thing seems to be running hard for him to do. Although many blind because running is too complex and completely abandoned, but the benefits Croft determined, not only to become a runner, but also to run their own, not dependent on the lead member. He recalls, "In the beginning, I would hit the lights, lights and trees." If you are at a faster speed sprint forward,play Baby Hazel Games hit anything will cause pain. When you see the car may be too late to brake. Dog people and parents with prams can not avoid you quickly. He remembered the fear he often there will be a first of mishaps. "The biggest challenge is psychological; you can not be afraid," Hui Croft said, "You have to firmly tell myself that I can do." Hui Croft has been started in a safe area ran, such as between two football field goal, but he eventually feel bored. So he started running down the street, he found that people generally do not get out, but that runners will bypass them. His approach is far from the so-called safe running, so he decided to run next to the highway, only has enough distance away from the traffic, nor interfere with the flow of people. Over the past six years, the benefits Croft grew into a considerable strength of the long-distance runners. In 2014, he went from Boston to New York, and then finish the New York Marathon, nine days ran a total of 240 miles. May 1 this year, he will begin a seven days 160 miles Super marathon trip in the Namib desert. Technology Solutions There is no group for the blind runners specially designed applications. 2010 Croft benefits started running, he is to rely on sighted design running applications. A few years ago he started Runkeeper, this application can help him get directions, tracking speed, and sound signal, telling him when to turn left or right. After the advent of Google Glass, he immediately recognized its potential in the blind runners. However, these techniques are not very consistent with his needs. Hui Croft determined to develop their own applications. In preparing training for the Boston Marathon, the benefits Croft began to seek a technology partner to help him in this task. After learning Runkeeper applications running on IBM Cloud cloud service, he decided to contact IBM. IBM invited him to London and development centers Bluemix Garage, he will, as the development and application of ideas impaired runners told where engineers. IBM quickly agreed to free him develop an application. Hui Croft in describing their ideal application pointed out that he did not want to sound too much navigation issue. Before he used the GPS system is in the form of complete sentences detailed description of directions; he tends to use a series of small sounds. "We believe that a slight buzzing sound than heard 'Left' or 'Right' more direct," he said, "I do not want to because voice play Girl Games instructions from the race and social atmosphere." Hui also said Croft, most consumer devices built-in GPS system accuracy to only 10 or 20 meters. "When you run the edge of the cliff, a difference of 10 meters will be a problem," he said. IBM applications for this new adaptation of a more advanced external GPS receiver to provide precise instructions to 5 meters. Hui Croft in Monday's Boston Marathon tested a version of the application. The track is very suitable for testing, because it is very simple, only two turned the corner. This application allows him to focus on the race, as he himself ran to instill confidence in the correct line. To get more feedback application, this month he will take it to the Namib Desert in preparation for the seven-day ultra-marathon in the desert, when the situation will be more complicated dangerous, requiring devices with longer battery life. "This is an iterative process," explains Hui Croft, he describes how he adjust various sound feedback mechanism to make it more clear process. "We want to make a minimum viable product within a week, and then I wore it on the road, while continuing to improve. Every time we test a feature." Despite the benefits Croft and IBM developed this application together with the market compared to conventional applications running there is a certain improvement, but he thought it should be made more functional. He hoped that this application be able to explain what is in front of the object, can provide immediate direction under dynamic environment. This requires that the application is able to scan the surrounding environment, and have a similar Watson artificial intelligence system, so the best decision-making routes. He also wished to be able to make a vibrating belt, thereby replacing the phone beeps. He is currently working with IBM developers to explore together how to achieve these goals. He was Google (microblogging) of Project Tango is also very enthusiastic about the use of sensor technology, motion tracking, depth perception and the image processing device to impart visual spatial ability. Google is selling Project Tango development kit, so you can customize the technology to implement a series of functions, such as helping customers to complete in-store navigation. But the benefits Croft believes it will become blind run game changer. Eventually, he hopes to make a cheap price, the entire application can be widely used in the blind community. Despite holding the IBM technology-related intellectual property rights, a spokesman said the company is not ready to use the app revenue, because the use case very special. "It's more like a human-computer interaction challenge the limits of an exercise," the spokesman explained. At the same time, the benefits Croft for the opportunity to launch a run on every iPhone application excited. "I do not like to use for the visually impaired the development of equipment, because usually very expensive, and very heavy," he said. Despite play Barbie Games the benefits Croft is tested during running of this technology, but not running blind users also benefit. "We build the core technology enables you to use beeps and vibrations to navigate, it can be widely used in various situations," Hui said Croft. This means that whether you are running a marathon in the Namib desert, or walking in a store, the benefits Croft applications can greatly improve the quality of life for all blind.