Patent Publication Number: US-2009224932-A1

Title: System, device and method for providing onsite information to aid visually and/or hearing impaired persons

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to visually impaired persons information systems and more specifically to system, device and associated methods that provide onsite information for use in aiding visually impaired persons. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Like any other person a visually impaired person needs to move and navigate within public areas such as public transportation stations, street crossings, pedestrian traffic lights and similar settings. Visually impaired persons need to get oriented inside the public buildings such as hotels, hospitals, and museums. Traditional primary walking aids for the visually impaired persons include guide dogs, walking canes and reliance on personal memory. Secondary walking aids include sophisticated electronic walking aids such as laser canes and sonar-based devices. The main limitation of such devices is that they provide little or no information regarding a user&#39;s orientation with respect to the general environment. 
     The advent of global positioning systems (GPS) and cellular telephone networks offers some hope of delivering to visually impaired persons and blind persons information helping to bring them to a desired target destination or describing their location and general environment with a relatively high accuracy. The cost of such devices is almost prohibitive for wide use and they are almost not effective when the vision impaired person is inside public buildings looking for a specific destination such as ticket counter, toilet etc. 
     There is a need to have a cost effective information delivery system and method for visually impaired persons, which may be located on every site, aiding them better navigate through complex environments. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus and method for utilizing announcement devices physically installed at public areas, and personnel devices operated by the visually impaired persons. The personnel devices are capable of remotely activating the announcement devices located in proximity to the visually impaired person to provide relevant audio information on the site visited by the visually impaired person. 
     The present system, device, and method of using, according to the principles of the present invention, overcomes a number of the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a novel system, device, and method for use in aiding visually impaired persons at or near onsite locations. The system includes an announcement device and a personnel device. The announcement device is configured to be installed at an onsite location, such as at a traffic light, on a bus or in a building. The announcement device is configured to emit an identification signal in which it is preferable that the identification signal is continuously emitted. The personnel device is configured to detect the identification signal so that the personnel device is able to alert the visually impaired person that the announcement device is located nearby. The personnel device is also configured to allow the person to select and activate a desired feedback selection signal to transmit from the personnel device to the announcement device so that the announcement device can subsequently transmit back any number of different announcement signals such as direction signals, electronic signals, audio signals, and visual signals. 
     In view of the foregoing need of aiding the visually impaired persons at unknown onsite locations, the present invention provides an improved system, device and method, which will be described subsequently in great detail, which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises an announcement device and a personnel device. The announcement device is configured to be installed at an onsite location, such as at a traffic light, on a bus or in a building. The announcement device is configured to emit an identification signal in which it is preferable that the identification signal is continuously or intermittently emitted. The personnel device is configured to detect the identification signal so that the personnel device is able to alert the visually impaired person that the announcement device is located nearby. The personnel device is also configured to allow the person to select and activate a desired feedback selection signal to transmit from the personnel device to the announcement device so that the announcement device can subsequently transmit back any number of different announcement signals such as direction signals, electronic signals, audio signals, and visual signals. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution of the art may be better appreciated. 
     The system invention may also include a plurality of announcement devices, a plurality of personnel devices, a central computer, and a local area network. 
     Numerous aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide a new and improved system, device and method for aiding the visually impaired so that they may more conveniently maneuver along unknown locations. 
     It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a new and improved system and associated devices that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     An even further aspect of the present invention is to provide a new and improved system and associated devices that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making the system and the associated devices economically available to the buying public. 
     Even still another aspect of the present invention is to provide system includes an announcement device and a personnel device. 
     Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide an announcement device which is configured to emit an identification signal. 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a personnel device which is configured to detect the identification signal so that the personnel device is able to alert the visually impaired person that the announcement device is located nearby. 
     Even yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a personnel device which is also configured to allow the person to select and activate a desired feedback selection signal to transmit from the personnel device to the announcement device so that the announcement device can subsequently transmit back any number of different announcement signals such as direction signals, electronic signals, audio signals, and visual signals. 
     Lastly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of using comprising the steps of alerting, detecting, emitting, installing, pushing, receiving, sending, and transmitting. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution of the art may be better appreciated. 
     Numerous other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     These together with other aspects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific aspects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and description matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. Further as used in the specification, “a” or “an” may mean one or more. As used herein in the claim(s), when used in conjunction with the word “comprising”, the words “a” or “an” may mean one or more than one. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The apparatus and method are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The apparatus and the method, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanied drawings, in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the method. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a system providing orientation information to a visually impaired person; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of an announcement device attached to a traffic light and providing orientation information for a visually impaired person; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a personnel device; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the announcement device; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary networked announcement configuration; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of various exemplary configurations of announcement devices and a personnel device with an integrated announcement module; 
         FIG. 7  a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of an identification module attached to an electric or hybrid vehicle transmitting information for a visually impaired person on proximity of such vehicles; 
         FIG. 8  a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of an identification module attached to cab transmitting information for a visually impaired person on proximity of such vehicles; and 
         FIG. 9  a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of an identification module attached to a passenger bus transmitting information for a visually impaired person on proximity of such vehicles. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     Further, it should be understood that, although steps of various the claimed method may be shown and described as being in a sequence or temporal order, the steps of any such method are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence or order, absent an indication otherwise. That is, the claimed method steps are to be considered to be capable of being carried out in any sequential combination or permutation order while still falling within the scope of the present invention. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
     Referring now to the drawings, and in particular  FIGS. 1 to 9  thereof, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral  100 . 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a system providing orientation information to a visually impaired person  210 . System  100  includes two main devices that are communicating between each other including an announcement device  110 , an exemplary embodiment of which is shown in detail in  FIG. 4  and a personnel device  130 , an exemplary embodiment of which is shown in detail in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 1  describes a system providing orientation information to a visually impaired person  210 . An announcement device  110  permanently installed at public area onsite locations  220  such as those selected from the group consisting of a traffic light onsite location  220 , a car onsite location  220 , a taxicab onside location, an elevator onsite location  220 , an entranceway onsite location  220 , a doorway onsite location, a train onsite location  220 , and a bus onsite location  220 . 
     Announcement device  110  includes a message storage facility  114  such as a non volatile memory to store a plurality of recorded announcements, optionally a notification indicator  118  such as those selected from the group consisting of a strobe light notification indicator  118 , a incandescent bulb notification indicator  118 , a light emitting diode notification indicator  118 , an electric arc notification indicator  118 , a moving sign notification indicator  118 , a liquid crystal notification indicator  118 , a flashing sign notification indicator  118 , and an audible notification indicator  118 . A preferred embodiment of the strobe light notification indicator  118  is that is able to emit well visible color to indicate for the visually impaired person  210  that is not completely blind and is walking in proximity to the announcement device  110  the location and help him to identify the location of device  110 . 
     Announcement device  110  also includes an announcement module  122  (also referred to as a transmitter  122 ) to announce one of the previously recorded announcements. A distance measurement module  146  may be also be included into announcement device  110 . The distance measurement module  146  is configured to measure the approximate position of the visually impaired person  210 . The optional measuring module  146  may be selected from the group consisting of a radar measuring module  146 , a radio frequency signal intensity measuring module  146 , an induction loop signal intensity measuring module  146 , an infrared signal intensity measuring module  146 , an acoustic signal intensity measuring module  146 , an ultrasound signal intensity measuring module  146 , and an infrasound signal intensity measuring module  146 . 
     The personnel device  130 , is used by the visually impaired person  210  to remotely activate the messages storage facility  114  to transmit one of the previously recorded announcement signals which is stored at the messages storage facility  114 . The personnel device  130  can be a dedicated remote control personnel device  130 . Alternatively, its function can be integrated into a mobile personnel device  130 , palm computer personnel device  130  or into a walking cane personnel device  130  used by the visually impaired. 
     One preferred embodiment is that the announcement device  110  constantly transmits the identification signal  126 , which may be a radio frequency identification signal  126 . Alternatively, the identification signal  126  can be generated by an induction loop element identification signal  126  installed at the announcement device  110 . Accordingly, the transmitter  122  (also referred to as the announcement module  122 ) may be selected from the group consisting of a radio frequency transmitter  122  and an induction loop transmitter  122 . The personnel device  130  is configured to receive and detect the identification signal  126  emitted from announcement device  110 . The received signal can be in a form of a radio frequency signal or an induction loop element identification signal  126  generated by device  110 . Accordingly, the detector  180  of the personnel device  130  may be selected from the group consisting of a radio frequency detector  180  and an induction loop detector  180 . Further the induction loop detector  180  may be a coil—‘T’ switch detector  180  installed in device  130  mounted in a hearing aid personnel device  130  for the benefit of deaf or hearing impaired persons. 
     A visually impaired person  210  equipped with a personnel device  130 , walking in proximity to a device  110  will get an indication from an alerting component  654  (also referred to as a responder  182 ) on his personnel device  130 . The alerting component  654  may produce any number of alert signals such as those selected from the group consisting of an audible alert signal, a buzzer alert signal, a notification signal, an electrical pulse signal, and a vibrating alert signal. This indication will alert the person  210  on the fact that a suitable announcement device  110  is located within the range of his personnel device  130 . 
     The visually impaired person  210  may choose to activate the announcement device  110  to announce a previously recorded message relevant to his walking location. In order to activate such an announcement, the visually impaired person  210  will need to select the proper announcement by pressing on one of the buttons, i.e., either the first button  134  or the second button  138  or by pressing on a combination sequence of buttons  134 ,  138 . The combination sequence provides the ability to select from a wider range of options. For example an ordered sequence combination can be pushed on the buttons  134 ,  138  by pressing twice in a row can generate 4 combinations in the case where two buttons  134  and  138  are used (2 in power of 2). The push buttons  134 ,  138  are located on the personnel device  130  and are distinguished from each other by Braille type protrusion facilitation suitable for use for visually impaired persons  210  or by geometric form. The selection of the desired announcement will cause a feedback selection signal  142  to be remotely broadcast back to the announcement device  110 . In response the announcement device  110  can activate a prerecorded announcement signal  160  to be transmitted. In addition the device  110  can also optionally activate the notification indicator  118 . 
     Each of the push buttons  134 ,  138  or their sequence combination may represent a selection for a similar announcement a desired language, for example English or Spanish. 
     The distance measured by the optional distance measuring module  146  may optionally be used to influence the type and/or magnitude of the subsequently transmitted announcement signal  160 . For example, in the event that a person  210  is identified at a distance of say 5 meters from a desired location, the announcement device  110  will transmit a different announcement signal  160  as compared to a person  210  standing at 10 meters from that same location. Alternately, when the announcement signal  160  is transmitted from the announcement device  110  to the personnel device  130 , personnel device  130  can be configured to generate a corresponding alert signal that gradually increases in intensity as a the person  210  nears the announcement device  110 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates one way of using the system  100  by a visually impaired person  210  trying to cross a road at a traffic light onsite location  220 . An announcement device  110  is shown physically installed on the traffic light onsite location  220  and the announcement device  110  is shown constantly or intermittently emitting the identification signal  126 . The personnel device  130  is shown being carried by person  210  in which the personnel device  130  receives or detects the identification signal  126  in which the personnel device  130  indicates to the person  210  that an announcement device  110  is located in proximity to that person  210 . The person  210  can then selects a desired feedback selection signal  142  which then subsequently activates the announcement device  110  to transmit back a corresponding announcement signal  160  which was previously stored in the storage facility  114  of announcement device  110 . This can be accomplished by pressing push buttons  134 ,  138  or a sequence combination of the buttons. The announcement signal  160  may correspond to a state of the status of the traffic light onsite location, such as, Green, Yellow or Red announcement signals  160 . Again the announcement signals  160  may be any type of announcement signals  160  such as those selected from the group consisting of a light announcement signal  160 , a siren announcement signals  160 , a periodic beeping announcement signal  160 , a digital data files announcement signals  160 , an electromagnetic pulses announcement signals  160 , and a different languages announcement signals  160 . Further the announcement signal  160  may be in a form of a direction of a specific street name or crossing, thus helping person  210  to get better oriented. 
     Another embodiment of system  100  usage can be an information system installed at public buildings. In this embodiment a plurality of announcement devices  110  can be located next to every elevator stop, as well as, at every corridor junction for example. The announcement signals  160  can be automatically activated by the person  210  in possession of the personnel device  130  in which the announcement signals  160  can be used to aid or direct the visually impaired person  210  on the floor number associated with the elevator stop in addition to direction information aiding person to reach a certain room or department located on the same floor. Such an announcement signal  160  might read: “for rooms  100 - 150  turn left and for rooms  151 - 200  turn to the right”. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a personnel device  130  that can be made wearable. This is done by introducing a wearable notch  310  into which a wearing chain or a lace can be inserted to hold the personnel device  130 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts an announcement device  110  having a notification indicator  118  and an announcement module  122  (also referred to as a transmitter  122 ). 
     In another embodiment of this invention, a method and apparatus of a networked announcement configuration  500  is shown in  FIG. 5 . A central announcement storage facility  518  used to store plurality of audio announcements is integrated in a central computer  510 . The announcement signals  160  are delivered to an announcement device via a local area network  514  on demand, by the visually impaired person  210  using an appropriate personnel device  130 . 
     The networked announcement configuration  500  is suitable where announcement devices  110  will be installed in large quantities. For example, in the case of a hotel or a large public building such a device will be placed at every elevator stop, or even in a corridor junction or along a corridor, instructing the visually impaired as to which direction to proceed. Loading each of the announcement devices with a proper message may be tedious work. 
     A central computer  510  with a storage facility  518  will allow recording all audio announcement signals  160  at a single location, without the need to record the message in proximity to every announcement device  110 . This scheme will also greatly simplify the alteration of previously recorded messages, as well as the addition of new messages. The central computer  510  will be able to deliver the announcement signals  160 , via a local area network (LAN)  514 , which typically exists today in every modern office, to the appropriate announcement device  110 . 
       FIG. 6  depicts various configurations of announcement devices  110  that may fit the particular needs of a networked announcement configuration  500 . One announcement device  110  is shown having an integrated announcement module  122 , a notification indicator  118 , and a measured distance monitoring module  146 . Another announcement device  110  is shown having a notification indicator  118  and a measured distance monitoring module  146 . Yet another announcement device  110  is shown having a notification indicator  118 , a measured distance monitoring module  146 , and a message storage facility  114 . The personnel device  130  is shown having a plurality of buttons  134 ,  138  and an alerting component  654 . The alerting component  654  is for alerting the person  210  which is capable of producing an alert signal selected from the group consisting of an audible alert signal, a buzzer alert signal, a notification alert signal, an electrical pulse alert signal, and a vibrating alert signal. 
     The alerting component  654  can be used for playing selected audio messages on the personnel device  130 . The alerting component  654  can be physically integrated into the personnel device  130  or alternatively configured to control a wearable Bluetooth headset. 
     The personnel device  130  can be configured to enable any of the announcement devices  110  depicted in  FIG. 6 . The personnel device  130  can also comprises a backup local storage facility  114 , which may be used for backup purposes, in cases where the local area network  514  fails temporarily. 
     The personnel device  130  with an alerting component  654  enables playing the audio message in proximity to the visually impaired person  210 , even directly into his headset, thus reducing the noise generated to other pedestrians by avoiding publicly playing the audio message. 
     The networked announcement configuration  500  can deliver the announcement signals  160  to any type of announcement devices  110  depicted in all of the figures. 
     In another embodiment of the method and apparatus of identification and notification to visually impaired person  210  of cars, i.e., onsite locations  220 , with silent engines is shown in  FIG. 7 . Cars equipped with electric engine such as electric or hybrid car  710  are very silent and a visually impaired person  210  might not notice such cars even in proximity to him. An announcement device  110  is shown installed in car onsite location  220  which constantly transmitting an identification signal  126 . A visually impaired person  210  carrying a personnel device  130  will receive the transmitted identification signal  126  which subsequently indicates to the visually impaired person  210  the fact that silent cars are in proximity to him. The strength of the an identification signal  126  sent from the announcement device  110  or the sensitivity of the personnel device  130  may be set such that the personnel device  130  carried by visually impaired person  210  will be able of detecting it from relatively greater distances such as at a distance of 20 meter, or 50 meter or even at a distance of 100 meter. 
     A similar embodiment is depicted in  FIG. 8 . A taxicab can also be defined as a onsite location  220  such that an announcement device  110  can be installed in the taxicab. The announcement device  110  can be configured to transmit an identification signal  126  which can be used to indicate the fact that a cab is proximate to the personnel device  130  held by the person  210 . A visually impaired person  210  will receive identification signal  822  into the personnel device  130 . The visually impaired person  210  may elect to to communicate to the taxicab onsite location  220  by pressing on buttons  134 ,  138  or a combination thereof which subsequently transmits a feedback selection signal  142  to taxicab onsite location  220 . The received feedback selection signal  142  will set the notification indicator  118 , and will thus indicate to the cab driver on a visually impaired person  210  in proximity, which is looking for a cab. 
     Still yet another embodiment of the method and apparatus of identification and notification to visually impaired person  210  of passenger bus in proximity is shown in  FIG. 9 . A passenger bus can also be viewed as an onsite location  220  such that an announcement device  110  can be mounted on the bus onsite location  220  so that the mounted announcement device  110  is constantly transmitting an identification signal  126 . The identification signal  126  may even include the particular bus number information, in digital and/or in audio form. The visually impaired person  210  equipped with a personnel device  130  with an integral alert component  654  may choose to notify the bus driver by pressing on buttons  134  or  138 , or a combination of buttons thereof. This will transmit the feedback selection signal  142  to the passenger bus which then subsequently activates the notification indicator  118  into an “ON” state. The notification indicator  118  will indicate to the bus driver that a visually impaired person  210  is nearby and is seeking bus service. 
     A system  100  for providing onsite information to a visually impaired person  210  comprises an announcement device  110  and a personnel device  130 . The announcement device  110  is configured to be installed at an onsite location  220  in which the announcement device  110  is configured to emit an identification signal  126 . The personnel device  130  is configured to detect the identification signal  126  in which the personnel device  130  is also configured to alert to the person  210  that the announcement device  110  is located within a detectable range of the personnel device  130 , and the personnel device  130  is also configured to allow the person  210  to select and activate a desired feedback selection signal  142  to transmit from the personnel device  130 . 
     The personnel device  130  may be configured as any type of design such as those selected from the group consisting of a hand held personnel device  130 , a earphone personnel device  130 , a walking cane personnel device  130 , a palm computer personnel device  130 , a wearable personnel device  130 , a necklace personnel device  130 , a mobile phone personnel device  130 , a bracelet personnel device  130 , a hearing aid personnel device  130 , and a headset personnel device  130 . The hearing aid personnel device  130  may be equipped with a coil and ‘T’ switch for the benefit of deaf or hearing impaired persons. Further the headset personnel device  130  may be a compatible monaural or binaural headset personnel device  130 . 
     The personnel device  130  may be configured to have an alerting component  654  for use in alerting the person  210  which is capable of producing an alert signal selected from the group consisting of an audible alert signal, a buzzer alert signal, a visual alert signal, an electrical pulse alert signal, and a vibrating alert signal. 
     The identification signal  126  may be any type of identification signal  126  such as those selected from the group consisting of a radio frequency identification signal  126 , an induction loop identification signal  126 , an infrared identification signal  126 , an acoustic identification signal  126 , an ultrasound identification signal  126 , and an infrasound identification signal  126 . Accordingly, the corresponding transmitter  122  of the announcement device  110  may be selected from the group consisting of a radio frequency transmitter  122 , an induction loop transmitter  122 , an infrared transmitter  122 , an acoustic transmitter  122 , an ultrasound transmitter  122 , and an transmitter  122 . 
     The announcement signals  160  may be any type of announcement signals  160  such as those selected from the group consisting of siren announcement signals  160 , periodic beeping announcement signals  160 , digital data files announcement signals  160 , electromagnetic pulses announcement signals  160 , induction loop pulses announcement signals  160 , and different languages announcement signals  160 . One preferred embodiment is that at least one of the announcement signals  160  comprises a spoken language announcement signal  160 . Accordingly, the detector  180  of the personnel device  130  may be the person  210  hearing or even seeing the announcement signals  160 , and the detector  180  of the personnel device  130  detecting the announcement signals  160 . 
     The onsite location  220  may be any onsite location  220  such as those selected from the group consisting of a traffic light onsite location  220 , a car onsite location  220 , a taxicab onside location, an elevator onsite location  220 , an entranceway onsite location  220 , a doorway onsite location, a train onsite location  220 , a bus onsite location  220 , and a building onsite location  220 . 
     One preferred embodiment is that the announcement device  110  is that it is configured to constantly emit the identification signal  126 . 
     The announcement device  110  may optionally be configured to receive the feedback selection signal  142  and to produce anyone of a plurality of announcement signals  160  in response to the received feedback selection signal  142 . 
     The announcement device  110  may also optionally comprise a notification indicator  118  configured to activate in response to when the announcement device  110  receives the feedback selection signal  142  from the personnel device  130 . 
     The announcement device  110  may also optionally comprise a measuring module  146  configured to measure an approximate position of the person  210  relative to the announcement device  110 . 
     The announcement device  110  may also optionally comprise a message storage facility  114  configured to store previously recorded announcement signals  160 . 
     The personnel device  130  may optionally comprise a plurality of buttons  134 ,  138  for allowing the person  210  to selectively activate the desired feedback selection signal  142 . 
     The system  100  may optionally comprise a plurality of announcement devices  110 , and a plurality of personnel devices  130 . 
     The system  100  may further comprise a central computer  510  and a local area network (LAN)  514 . The central computer  510  is used to store a plurality of announcement signals  160 . The LAN  514  is operatively connected to the central computer  510  such that a plurality of announcement device  110  can be operatively connected to the LAN  514  and operatively connected to the central computer  510 . Further the personnel device  130  can be configured to detect anyone identification signal  126  emitted from anyone of the announcement device  110 , so that the personnel device  130  can alert to the person  210  that anyone of the announcement device  110  is located within the detectable range of the personnel device  130 . The LAN  514  may be any LAN  514  such as those selected from the group consisting of a wired LAN  514  and a wireless LAN. 
     One embodiment of the personnel device  130  for providing onsite information to a visually impaired person  210  comprises: a means for detecting an identification signal  126 ; a means for alerting to the person  210  that an announcement device  110  is located within a detectable range of the personnel device  130 ; and a means for allowing the person  210  to select and activate a desired feedback selection signal  142  to transmit from the personnel device  130 ; and a means for broadcasting the feedback selection signal. The means for detecting an identification signal  126  may be a detector  180  selected from the group consisting of radio frequency detector  180 , an infrared detector  180 , an acoustic detector  180 , an ultrasound detector  180 , and an infrasound detector  180 , and an induction loop detector  180  such as a coil mounted in a hearing aid coupled to a ‘T’ switch for the benefit of deaf or hearing impaired persons. The means for alerting may be any alert responder  182  such as those selected from the group consisting of an alert responder  182 , a buzzer alert responder  182 , a visual alert responder  182 , a vibrating alert responder  182 , and an electrical pulse alert responder  182 . The means for allowing the person  210  to select and activate a desired feedback selection signal  142  to transmit from the personnel device  130  can be a plurality of push buttons  134 ,  138 . The means for broadcasting the feedback selection signal may be any 
     One embodiment of the announcement device  110  comprises: an means for emitting an identification signal  126 ; a means for receiving a feedback selection signal  142 ; a means for producing anyone of a plurality of recorded announcement signals  160  in response to the received feedback selection signal  142 ; a means for visually indicating that the announcement device  110  receives the feedback selection signal  142  from a personnel device  130 ; a means for measuring module  146  configured to measure an approximate position of the person  210  relative to the announcement device  110 ; and a means for storing recorded announcement signals  160 . The means for emitting an identification signal  126  may be an emitter  184  selected from the group consisting of radio frequency emitter  184 , an induction loop emitter  184 , an infrared emitter  184 , an acoustic emitter  184 , an ultrasound emitter  184 , and an infrasound emitter  184 . The means for receiving a feedback selection signal  142  may be a receiver  188  selected from the group consisting of radio frequency receiver  188 , an induction loop receiver  188 , an infrared receiver  188 , an acoustic receiver  188 , an ultrasound receiver  188 , and an infrasound receiver  188 . The means for producing anyone of a plurality of recorded announcement signals  160  may be any transmitter  122  selected from the group consisting of a speaker transmitter  122 , radio frequency transmitter  122 , an induction loop transmitter  122 , an infrared transmitter  122 , an acoustic transmitter  122 , an ultrasound transmitter  122 , and an infrasound transmitter  122 . The means for visually indicating that the announcement device  110  receives the feedback selection signal  142  may be a notification indicator  118  selected from the group consisting of a incandescent bulb notification indicator  118 , a light emitting diode notification indicator  118 , an electric arc notification indicator  118 , a moving sign notification indicator  118 , a liquid crystal notification indicator  118 , a flashing sign notification indicator  118 . The means for measuring module  146  may be selected from the group consisting of a radar measuring module  146 , a radio frequency signal intensity measuring module  146 , an induction loop signal intensity measuring module  146 , an infrared signal intensity measuring module  146 , an acoustic signal intensity measuring module  146 , an ultrasound signal intensity measuring module  146 , and an infrasound signal intensity measuring module  146 . The means for storing recorded announcement signals  160  may a message storage facility  114  selected from the group consisting of computer message storage facility  114 , a semiconductor chip message storage facility  114 , and a random access memory message storage facility  114 . 
     One embodiment of a method for providing onsite information to a visually impaired person  210  comprises the steps of alerting, detecting, emitting, installing, pushing, receiving, and sending and transmitting. The installing step comprises installing an announcement device  110  at an onsite location  220 . The emitting step comprises emitting an identification signal  126  from the installed announcement device  110 . The detecting step comprises detecting the identification signal  126  using a personnel device  130  configured to detect the identification signal  126 . The alerting step comprises alerting, by using the personnel device  130 , the person  210  that the announcement device  110  is located within a detectable range of the personnel device  130 . The pushing step comprises pushing at least one button  134 ,  138  on the personnel device  130  to select a feedback selection signal  142 . The sending step comprises sending a feedback signal from the personnel device  130 . The receiving step comprises receiving the feedback signal at the announcement device  110 . The transmitting step comprises transmitting an announcement signal  160  from the announcement device  110  in response to the received feedback selection signal  142 . 
     An optional set of steps of recording, storing and measuring may be added to the method for providing onsite information to a visually impaired person  210 . The optional recording step comprises recording announcement signals  160 . The optional storing step comprises storing the recorded announcement signals  160  in a message storage facility  114  of the announcement device  110 . The optional measuring step comprises measuring a distance between the announcement device  110  and the personnel device  130 . 
     As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     While a number of preferred embodiments of the system, device and methods has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.