Evaluation of an Audio-haptic Sensory Substitution Device for Enhancing Spatial Awareness for the Visually Impaired

Optometry and Vision Science : Official Publication of the American Academy of Optometry
Rebekka HoffmannRunar Unnthorsson

Abstract

Visually impaired participants were surprisingly fast in learning a new sensory substitution device, which allows them to detect obstacles within a 3.5-m radius and to find the optimal path in between. Within a few hours of training, participants successfully performed complex navigation as well as with the white cane. Globally, millions of people live with vision impairment, yet effective assistive devices to increase their independence remain scarce. A promising method is the use of sensory substitution devices, which are human-machine interfaces transforming visual into auditory or tactile information. The Sound of Vision (SoV) system continuously encodes visual elements of the environment into audio-haptic signals. Here, we evaluated the SoV system in complex navigation tasks, to compare performance with the SoV system with the white cane, quantify training effects, and collect user feedback. Six visually impaired participants received eight hours of training with the SoV system, completed a usability questionnaire, and repeatedly performed assessments, for which they navigated through standardized scenes. In each assessment, participants had to avoid collisions with obstacles, using the SoV system, the white cane, or both ...Continue Reading

References

Feb 1, 1992·IEEE Transactions on Bio-medical Engineering·P B Meijer
Jan 1, 1995·Somatosensory & Motor Research·J C Stevens, M Q Patterson
Nov 4, 1998·American Journal of Epidemiology·K J CruickshanksD M Nondahl
Feb 20, 2015·Multisensory Research·Jess Hartcher-O'Brien, Malika Auvray
May 6, 2016·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·Achille Pasqualotto, Tayfun Esenkaya
Aug 29, 2016·Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience·Árni KristjánssonRúnar Unnthorsson
Sep 1, 2017·Experimental Brain Research·Ómar I JóhannessonÁrni Kristjánsson

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Citations

Sep 1, 2018·Optometry and Vision Science : Official Publication of the American Academy of Optometry·Bradley Dougherty
Oct 8, 2018·Experimental Brain Research·Rebekka HoffmannÁrni Kristjánsson
Jun 20, 2020·Journal of Neural Engineering·Jessica KvansakulMatthew A Petoe
Feb 27, 2021·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience·Maurice PtitoDaniel-Robert Chebat
Dec 25, 2021·Assistive Technology : the Official Journal of RESNA·Sarah AbdiL P de Witte

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Software Mentioned

Sound Vision
Drishti
TapTapSee
R
vOICE
Sound
of Vision
TANIA
Sound of Vision

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