A Bluetooth system developed at the University of Michigan tells blind or sighted pedestrians about points of interest along their path as they pass them. Called Talking Points, the system is the first known to use Bluetooth, allowing people to operate it entirely with voice commands, and incorporate community-generated content through a website.

The system uses a mobile device to pick up the Bluetooth signals and speak or display information to the user. Bluetooth beacons, or tags, would be located at points of interest where owners wish to give information to Talking Points users. A website would allow beacon owners to program their tags. Once a beacon is added, other community members could add their comments about the point of interest.

"Talking Points can be viewed as a first step in the direction of an audio virtual reality designed for people with blindness and very useful to the sighted community as well," said James Knox, adaptive technology coordinator for the University's Information Technology Central Services and one of the system's developers.

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