Training on biped app

The first training that we advise to follow is on the biped app. We co-developed a training modules with orientation and mobility trainers for the best self-training experience, directly from a smartphone, without having to leave home. This training is made of various levels of gradual complexity. Users should complete the first levels before being able to use biped.

1. Download the app
To get started, you will need to download the biped app. It is available both on the AppStore and the PlayStore, under the name "biped app".

For iOS, click on the link below:

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/biped-app/id6443738640
Sign up using your Google account, Apple account on iOS, or directly with your email, and follow the instructions. The whole app is accessible over VoiceOver and TalkBack.


2. Follow the training
To start the training program, on the app, click on « Learn to use biped » and complete the first levels, until « Obstacle elevation » is included. Each level is made of an audio file, explaining a concept of what biped can capture, and what audio feedback it would generate. After each level, 2 to 3 questions are asked to validate the understanding of this level.

Note: you only need to complete this once, and we recommend doing it with every tester. It takes about 10 minutes.
Screenshot of the online training program

3. Go outdoors
After you have completed the audio training and defined all your settings, it's time to use the biped device. On the app, click on « Start walking » and you should start to hear sounds. These sounds should feel similar to the sounds you have heard in the training before

To learn how to use biped, we recommend going outside. You can do this step alone, or with the support of someone else if needed. Please follow the procedure below to put your training into practice.

Step 1: go outdoors and make sure that your surroundings are free (typically a park, a parking lot, or any open area)
Step 2: make sure biped is correctly placed on your shoulders and the cameras are not covered (for example scarf, hair, jacket...)
Step 3: click on "start walking"

4. Real-life introduction
To get used to the sounds biped generates in practice, do these exercises one after another:

Exercise 1: place your hands in front of biped, it will generate a sound. That's the sound of a close obstacle.
Exercise 2:
stand in front of a wall and walk slowly towards it. You should hear the sounds get closer and closer.
Exercise 3: do it again and walk a bit faster in the direction of the wall. Adjust the obstacle detection threshold If you feel like obstacles are detected too late. This is useful to adjust biped to your walking speed.
Exercise 4: Stand next to a ground-level obstacle and then next to a head-level obstacle to hear the difference. If needed, you can ask a relative to place their hands above the cameras or below the cameras to simulate this.

If you hear too many sounds, it could come from a heavy light, reflective surfaces or rain are preventing the cameras from working 100%. We are aware of these limitations and are working on a future update to improve this. It could also come from a wrong setting: make sure you have a short obstacle detection threshold, and that you have set your height properly in the settings too, this is important.