Emergency Assistant for the Blind

Project Overview

  • The need for effective disaster communication is critical due to the increasing occurrences of natural disasters such as pandemics, wildfires, earthquakes, and floods, which cause significant loss of life and property. To mitigate these risks, disaster alerts are sent to inform people of imminent threats. However, visually impaired individuals face challenges in accessing these alerts promptly due to the absence of auditory disaster notifications and the inability of current devices to support text-to-speech for lengthy messages. This project aims to bridge this gap and provide a solution for visually impaired individuals who are currently underserved in disaster response scenarios.

  • Real-time Disaster Alerts via Audio

    • Converts text-based emergency alerts into audio using Text-to-Speech (TTS) technology.

    • Recognizes key disaster-related keywords for efficient alert dissemination.

    Seamless Operation

    • The app runs in the background, ensuring users receive notifications even when the app is not actively open.

    • User interface is designed to be simple and accessible for visually impaired users.

    Keyword Recognition System

    • Identifies specific government agency names (e.g., Ministry of Environment, Meteorological Administration) as keywords to prioritize disaster messages.

    Permission Handling

    • Automatically requests SMS permissions upon installation, ensuring smooth integration and functionality.

  • Development Platform:

    • Android Studio for app development.

    Core Technologies:

    • TTS (Text-to-Speech): Converts disaster texts into audible messages.

    • Android SMS API: Enables reading and processing of SMS messages.

    Programming Languages:

    • Java/Kotlin for Android application development.

    Permission Management:

    • Configured through AndroidManifest.xml and in-app prompts.

  • Primary Application:

    • Visually Impaired Users: Ensures they can quickly access emergency disaster alerts, enabling timely and appropriate responses.

    Extended Use Cases:

    • Elderly Users: Facilitates audio notifications for those with difficulty reading or understanding text messages.

    • Children and Individuals with Learning Disabilities: Provides simplified and accessible alert notifications.

    Future Applications:

    • Integration of keyword summarization to highlight essential details in long messages.

    • Addition of a storage feature to save and replay critical alerts for repeated reference.

How It Works

Grant Permission

  • When you first open the app, it asks for permission to read SMS messages.

  • Allow the permission to activate the app's functionality.

Runs in the Background

  • The app works automatically, even if it’s not open, to monitor incoming SMS messages.

Keyword Detection

  • When an SMS arrives, the app checks for keywords like “Ministry of Environment” or “Meteorological Administration” to identify disaster-related messages.

Text-to-Speech (TTS)

  • If a disaster message is detected, the app reads the message out loud using a built-in voice system.

User Hears the Alert

  • You listen to the audio message and respond to the situation accordingly.

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