A computer-aided communication and navigation system that uses a computer
or other processor in wireless communication with Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) tags to aid a blind person. A communication module
worn by the user receives information from one or more RFID tags readers
and provides audio and, optionally, stimulatory information to the blind
person. In one embodiment, a tag reader is provided in a walking cane. In
one embodiment, tag readers are provided in one or more ankle bracelets
or shoes. In one embodiment, a wireless (or wired) earpiece is provided
to provide audio information to one or both ears. In one embodiment,
audio information is provided through one or more transducers that couple
sound through bones. The use of bone coupling allows the blind person to
hear the sound information from the communication module in concert with
normal hearing. The tag readers provided to the ankles or shoes
communicate with the communication module to allow the blind user to
navigate by following a "trail" of RFID tags.