The Nottingham Obstacle Director (NOD) is an ultrasonic handheld aid designed to help visually handicapped people detect obstacles as they travel. NOD emits pulses of high-frequency sound up to 7½ feet ahead of the user. The pocket-sized secondary device requires little training and is intended to be used with a primary aid (long cane, dog guide). This article describes the development of the NOD and the results of two evaluation studies that tested the efficacy of the device.
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