Systems and methods for communicating with vision-impaired vehicle occupants

A method of controlling an occupant output system adapted to provide output directed to a single passenger within the vehicle, comprising:

• tracking a location and movement of a passenger within the vehicle with an occupant monitoring system;
• receiving, with at least one processor in operable communication with the occupant monitoring system, data from the occupant monitoring system;
• tracking, with the occupant monitoring system, one or both eyes of the passenger;
• analyzing, with the at least one processor, the data from the occupant monitoring system to determine a location of the passenger within the vehicle and an orientation of a head and eyes of the passenger;
• analyzing, with the at least one processor, the data from the occupant monitoring system to determine if the passenger is vision-impaired;
• and
• when the passenger is determined to be vision impaired, generating, with the at least one processor, an output for the passenger on the at least one output device, based on the location of the passenger within the vehicle and the orientation of the head of the passenger.

An occupant output system associated with a vehicle, comprising:

• at least one audio output device adapted to provide output directed only to a single passenger within the vehicle, the at least one audio output device comprising one of a directional speaker mounted within the vehicle adapted to provide audible output that is perceptible only by the passenger, and a personal audio device adapted to be worn by the passenger;
• an occupant monitoring system adapted to track location and movement of the passenger within the vehicle and track one or both eyes of the passenger;
• at least one processor in operable communication with the occupant output system and the occupant monitoring system, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute program instructions, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to:
• receive data from the occupant monitoring system;
• analyze the data from the occupant monitoring system, output a sound, and monitor a response to the sound by the passenger to determine if the passenger is vision-impaired;
• analyze the data from the occupant monitoring system to determine a location of the passenger within the vehicle and an orientation of a head and eyes of the passenger;
• when the passenger is determined to be vision impaired,
• generate an output for the passenger, translate the output into a preferred language of the occupant, and provide the output, on the at least one output device, to the passenger based on the location of the passenger within the vehicle and the orientation of the head of the passenger.