Auxel Project…

It is crucial for us to experience the darkness totally

before we can really enjoy the light and colors of this life.
It is not about …

describing a pink flower to them ..

And anyway can any one really describe this?
It is not about ..

red, yellow, orange or few more colors…

Its not about…

saying that ‘its a very cute expression’ ….

It is not about ..

traveling with out stumbling, falling or crashing

into someone or something…
Its not even about …..

giving them a better stick to walk around…

Its about taking away their sticks…

so that they can run !

and run care free…
It is not about describing to them how
beautiful this world around us is…
It is about sharing a smile

when they experience it for themselves

and then describe to us …

how wonderful this world really is!

What is ‘Auxel’ ???

AUXEL = AU + XEL

AUXEL = AUdible + piXEL

AUXEL = Pixel that is sensed though Sound

 Target
• To Eradicate blindness from Earth before
2nd November 2008
• “Globally, in 2002 more than 161 million people were visually
impaired, of whom 124 million people had low vision and 37 million
were blind.* However, refractive error as a cause of visual
impairment was not included, which implies that the actual global
magnitude of visual impairment is greater.” - World Health
Organization

• Target Cost to create and distribute this device is under US$10

each. ( maximum $100 )

• Standard target: 32x32 pixel image recognition

• Extraordinary target: 64x64 pixel image recognition

 How?

We use computers to convert a colored

digital image ( or stream of images)
into sound, one pixel at a time.

Visually challenged people can mentally

visualize the image using these
sounds.
 Who will be benefited ?
All people who have a non curable / non-
preventable blindness as well as curable
blindness*.

Totally blind, partially blind, born blind,

accidentally blind, color blind, low vision.

* Cure / surgery etc may not be practically feasible in

many parts of the world and thus many of such
cases will be greatly helped by Auxel project.

• So basically, all kinds of blindness.

 Auxel takes an alternative route
Natural Visual Pathway
Image -> Retina -> Optic Nerves -> Visual Cortex -> Higher Brain

Auxel Visual Pathway

Image -> Camera -> Converter -> Sound -> Ear -> Auditory Nerve
-> Auditory Cortex -> Higher Brain

Blindness may be because of malfunction of any

component of the natural visual pathway.

In Auxel Project, we bypass the Natural Visual Pathway

totally!
 Device Development Journey
• Currently used: Desktop & Laptop Computers with Auxel training
software.

• Soon to use: Mobile phone with training software & LIVE camera
mode.

• AUXEL GOGGLE:
– Special portable hardware prototype is being developed at BITS, Pilani
with help of Scientists from CEERI (Center of Electronics and Electrical
Research of India).

– The efforts are being put in and same work is being done in other private
companies as well.

This device will be compacted to hide inside a special

goggle which will look like any other ordinary goggle but
will work as ‘eyes’ with perfect vision for the visually
challenged people
 Goggles
• Two 32x32 pixel cameras – Peripheral &
Central vision
• Wireless control of the movements of
central vision camera through the fingers
of feet.
• One earphone use (one ear needed for
hearing natural sounds)
• Various modes (like reading, movie,
playing, walking, driving) selection option
on special control panel.
(Refresh rate of images and clarity of images from both cameras will
vary accordingly.)
 Achievement Milestones
• Language (algorithm) was created and tested, It
succeeded and it was eventually perfected.

• Trial Software successfully created and used for trials.

• Miss Divya Bijur was able to learn this language in 4

hours, who is now the first born blind person who can
teach other born blind people .. how to perceive colored
images!

This has NEVER been done before in history of Mankind

Two prototypes of tactile device has been developed to

convey 3rd Dimension information (Sound is only 2
dimensional)
 Auxel Project’s Uniqueness
• Auxel helps one (visually challenged person)
sense the colored images with out any loss of
image information

i Hue ( Colors – Red, Green, etc)

ii Chroma / Saturation (Amount / intensity of color)
iii Luminance (Amount of light)

Only b/w and grey scale images have been converted to

sound so far, except one experiment where only Hue was
used for contour maps.
Auxel Project’s Uniqueness

• No surgery or implant needed

• Free of Cost Training

• Free of Cost Software

 Auxel Project’s Uniqueness

• Globally Expanding Family & Loving Support

• Specially Engineered Product

• Extensively Experimented

• No Hazardous Materials / Components Used

 Auxel Project’s Uniqueness
• Least Possible Hardware Cost
(Mass Production - Several Million)

• Various Options Learning Auxel

– Audio Training CD & Video Demo CD
– Internet sites
– Special Downloadable software
– Special hardware (in making)
– Short Film on Auxel Project (in making)
 Its easy!
• Training procedure is absolutely simple.

• Any Internet user can start training

sessions in own area and make difference
to his/her society.

• Auxel Package can be copied on a CD

and taken to place where there is no
Internet connection.
 Auxel Project’s Impact
Part 1 – Individual Perspective
• Tremendously more independence.
• Smarter work opportunities, higher pay,
lot better economic future.
• Better learning opportunities, faster
learning, wider vocational options.
• Standard and quality of life will improve
drastically.
• Better access to latest technologies and
tools.
 Auxel Project’s Impact
Part 2 – Global Perspective
• Several million AUXEL ENABLED (who
would no longer be disabled / challenged)
people now will be empowered to explore
their potentials, skills and talents much
better.

• They and their families will be happier and

live life more vividly.
• Cumulative positive effect on Global level
is beyond calculations
Now lets know how it works…
 Marker Sounds
Image Start Marker Sound

Row End Marker Sound

Image End Marker Sound

Data Sounds
Color One GREEN
Color Two BLUE
Play
Play
Play
Magnified 32x32 pixel images
 Current Reach out
• Usa • Holland
• Germany • Japan
• Brazil • Singapore
• China • Pakistan
• Mauritius • Sri lanka
• Kuwait

Ordinary people like you and me, are globally

volunteering for this project, making it happen, and
driving it toward its target!
Action plan to achieve the target
• Spread awareness and globally join hands
together through
– Professional Networks / Associations / Bodies
– Social Networks / Communities
– Media & Celebrities
– Mailing lists and online communities
• Get more and more visually challenged
people as well as sighted people to be
trained so that train other blind people.
• Help in technical terms (If you are not
technological development person, then help
Auxel find excellent such person!)
 How to help
• Helping Spread Awareness

• Instilling faith in visually challenged people you

meet, that they now can really ‘see’ !
• Share the details of this project in other
organization / association you are part of

• Ask technical minded and social service inclined

people to know the project in depth.
• Be part of this wonderful, globally growing
family! AUXEL FAMILY !
Thank you!