Galaxy Note 4 said to come with “ultrasonic cover” to help the visually impaired
As we do with each passing iteration of the Samsung Galaxy Note, we expect Samsung to go all out with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 in terms of specs and unique features. Rumors are already telling us to expect ridiculousness such as 4GB of RAM and 4K video recording, and now you can add another one to the list.
According to info received by SamMobile, Samsung is planning to introduce an “ultrasonic cover” that can help visually impaired people make their way around. The ultrasonic sensor will send waves out in front of the user for purposes of identifying objects ahead of them. It could detect a wall or a pole and help you avoid it, for instance.
We’re not sure how accurate the technology is, but Samsung’s nowhere near confident enough to suggest you ditch a good ol’ cane or a seeing-eye dog. Here’s a quick alleged excerpt from the Note 4’s user guide about the thing:
The Product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This Product is a non-medical device.
It cannot replace a cane and should never be used as a mobility aid or substitute for any mobility aid tool. It must always be used in combination with a cane, a dog guide, or a human guide because, by itself, it does not provide information necessary for safe travel.
The manual goes on to detail some of the pitfalls, including the accessory’s field of vision narrowing the further you set the sensor’s distance (you can set it to detect stuff from a short, medium or long distance). They also warn of objects dropping off at certain angles and distances, meaning it might miss an upcoming object if it’s not positioned or angled the right way.
It certainly doesn’t sound safe enough to be used alone, but it could be a pretty nice companion to your typical medical solutions. The feeling is that Samsung will look to introduce this thing alongside the Note 4 at their upcoming Unpacked event on September 3rd, so we’ll have to wait to see it for ourselves before passing final judgment.
Would this accessory help you or someone you know in their day-to-day life? Let us know in the comments below, and let us know if that alone would move you to buy a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 over any other phone this year!