Positive News Today

Positive News Today
Human Kindness Projects

Breakthrough App Guides Blind Runner on Solo 5k Run Through Central Park

December 17, 202009
Share0

Vision isn’t always measured by the things we see, but rather by the things we imagine, the things we strive to accomplish, and the things we make happen. Runner Thomas Panek lost his sight to a genetic disorder in his twenties but he’s never given up on the race.

“The safest thing for a blind man is to sit still. I ain’t sitting still,” he told Reuters.

Three decades down the road, Panek is breaking into a new stride. Using a cutting-edge app he was instrumental in developing, he recently became the first blind runner to complete a 5K race without the aid of a guide dog or human running partner.

Google/YouTube

Panek is no stranger to firsts. As president and CEO of New York-based nonprofit Guiding Eyes for the Blind, in 2015, he launched the “Running Guides” program that trains guide dogs for blind runners.

“I’ve been a runner for my whole life, except I stopped for a time too afraid to run without assistance. I picked up running again using human guides,” Panek said in an interview with Time. “People volunteered to connect with me with a tether to show the way to go but I would have to leave my guide dog at home—and yet, dogs love to run and I love to run so I really wanted to see with my training from Guiding Eyes for the Blind if it was possible to train a guide dog to run.”

CHECK OUT: Athlete With Downs Syndrome Makes History as First to Finish an Iron Man Race–And Gifts the Medal to His Mom

In March of 2019, Panek—the first blind entrant to do so—ran the 13.1 mile New York City Half Marathon, crossing the finish line with a time 2:20:52 with the help of a three-dog relay team.

He started the race accompanied by a black Labrador named Westley. Westley was relieved by a yellow Lab named Waffle. Panek completed the last leg of the race with his personal guide dog, Gus.

As much as he enjoyed the companionship of his guide dog, Panek wondered if there might not be a way to race on his own. He reached out to Google for help.

The answer came in the form of a camera-assisted artificial intelligence cell phone app. Using painted track markers, the app calculates a runner’s location and orientation and responds with audio cues to guide them in the right direction.

At an event co-sponsored by Google and the New York Road Runners Club, Panek tried out the Project Guideline app for the first time. “To be able to be here, it’s real emotional,” he said. “It’s a real feeling of not only freedom and independence, but also, you know, you get that sense that you’re just like anybody else.”

MORE: Meet the 18-Year-old Blind Piano Player Who is So Talented, Scientists Are Studying His Brain

Except Panek isn’t like anybody else. He believes humans are “born to run” and he’s gifted with the kind of vision that strives to make sure that no one who shares his dream gets left behind.

(WATCH the Google video of how the technology got made below.)

RUN This Fascinating Story Over to Friends on Social Media…

Source

Share0
previous post
Englishman Grows 500 Types of Edible Foods With Only a Few Hours’ Work a Month
next post
‘Mom, It’s Me!’ Woman Meets Son She Placed For Adoption 45 Years Ago And Confirms She Made Right Decision

Related posts

Celebrity Chef David Chang Won $1 Million – And He’s Giving It All to Restaurant Workers

TheEarthLabDecember 11, 2020

Mesoamerican copper smelting technology aided colonial weaponry

TheEarthLabSeptember 30, 2020

Canadian Man Drives Stranded American Family 1,000 Miles to Alaska

TheEarthLabDecember 14, 2020
Click to comment

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

  • Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Come to the Rescue of Texas Women’s Shelter After Winter Storm
  • Cardboard Artist Creates Mirror Surrounded By Black Legendary Heroes to Inspire Next Generation of Leaders
  • Aurobindo Pharma gets USFDA nod for generic Droxidopa capsules
  • Goldman Sachs inks pact for 1.5 lakh sq ft office space lease in Hyderabad’s Knowledge City
  • U.S. nets $46,000 on Trump’s California oil, gas drilling auction

Archives

  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020

Subscrible

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

  • News
  • Projects
  • About
  • Contact
  • TV Pitch
FacebookTwitterInstagram
@2020 - thelab.earth. All Right Reserved.
theLAB.earth
  • Global
    • Global News
    • Global Media
    • Global Events
    • Global Projects
  • Energy
    • Energy News
    • Energy Media
    • Energy Events
    • Energy Projects
  • Water
    • Water News
    • Water Media
    • Water Events
    • Water Projects
  • Human Kindness
    • Human Kindness News
    • Human Kindness Media
    • Human Kindness Events
    • Human Kindness Projects
  • Projects
logo
  • Global
    • Global News
    • Global Media
    • Global Events
    • Global Projects
  • Energy
    • Energy News
    • Energy Media
    • Energy Events
    • Energy Projects
  • Water
    • Water News
    • Water Media
    • Water Events
    • Water Projects
  • Human Kindness
    • Human Kindness News
    • Human Kindness Media
    • Human Kindness Events
    • Human Kindness Projects
  • Projects
@2020 - thelab.earth. All Right Reserved.
FacebookTwitterInstagram