Zane Trace student invents device to aid visually impaired

Megan Becker, Chillicothe Gazette
·2 min read

CHILLICOTHE― Last month, Macy Long graduated from Zane Trace High School. Days before, she competed at an international science and engineering fair with her invention to help the visually impaired.

Once a year, a student from the southeastern Ohio region is selected for the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Long was shocked when her name was announced as the student going to the international competition in Texas.

Macy Long graduated from Zane Trace last month. She invented a Device to help the visually impaired and presented it at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Dallas, Texas.
Macy Long graduated from Zane Trace last month. She invented a Device to help the visually impaired and presented it at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Dallas, Texas.

The device goes on the user's wrist and vibrates when in close proximity to objects. The closer the user is to the object, the more the device vibrates. The invention can be used as a virtual white walking cane.

Users can also distinguish between different objects using the device. Long compared the device to a bat using echolocation.

"It's supposed to be easier than having a guide dog or the typical white cane because it's actually on the user and it's more in their scope," Long said. "I just wanted to create a device to help people."

Long said most commercially available sensory substitution products are extremely overpriced, but her device was created to be a low-cost option at about $60 per device.

She competed in science fairs before, mainly focusing on psychology projects like, "Do phone users exhibit signs of addiction?" This year she wanted to try an engineering project after being inspired by a blind pug at the humane society.

She taught herself how to code in Python. After much trial and error, she completed the project in about four months. She quickly realized the invention could be used to help visually impaired humans.

Her father, Brad Long, watched his daughter work long hours to create the device. He joked that he has been able to help his daughter less and less over the years as Macy has "exceeded my level of expertise."

Macy Long demonstrated her Human Ultrasonic Echolocation Device at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Dallas, Texas. Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth (FBP) and other sponsors will be covering trip expenses. From left, Dr. Natalie Kruse Daniels, director of Environmental Studies at the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service; Scholarship Recipient Macy Long, FBP President and CEO Greg Wilkett, and FBP Community Commitment Chair Tim Poe.

Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth (FBP) partnered with Ohio University to pay for her travel expenses to the international science fair last month.

Long plans to attend The Ohio State University to study moving image production to become a visual effects artist.

Megan Becker is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. Call her at 740-349-1106, email her at mbecker@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @BeckerReporting

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Zane Trace student invents device to aid visually impaired