A wearable UV sensor and accessible smartphone application for blind people

Abstract

Ultraviolet radiation from the Sun is an essential part of the process of obtaining Vitamin D by the human body. However, prolonged exposure poses a risk to the health of the skin and eyes that can lead to premature aging and even cancer. Moreover, the quick technological development shows some barriers for visually impaired users because they require special help via audio devices, in order to access to any kind of technology. For these reasons, in this paper we present a wearable UV sensor prototype integrated with an audio notification system based on a smartphone app for blind people. Our notification system is capable of offering an appropriate skin care recommendations based on ultraviolet index (UVI), exposure time and skin color.