The “Walking Radar” project connects up a Basic Stamp and IR sensor to your cell phone in order to detect objects in the environment and influence games on the device or trigger SMS messages to be sent. [Make]
It occurred to me this gadget if hooked up to the vibration part of your phone could be used by the blind to detect and avoid objects.
[Link – Mobile Expressions]
life tools 
There are probably a lot of devices out there that could have a second life as an aide for those with disabilities. I hope someone tries it out to see if it would work.