A Virtual Map to Support People Who are Blind in Navigation through Real Spaces

Abstract

Most of the spatial information needed by sighted people to construct cognitive maps of spaces is gathered through the visual channel. Unfortunately, people who are blind lack the ability to collect the required spatial information in advance. The use of virtual reality as a learning and rehabilitation tool for people with disabilities has been on the rise in recent years. This research is based on the hypothesis that the advance supply of appropriate spatial information (perceptual and conceptual) through compensatory sensorial channels within a virtual environment may assist people who are blind in their anticipatory exploration and cognitive mapping of the unknown space. In this long-term research we developed and tested the BlindAid system that combines 3D audio with a Phantom® haptic interface to allow the user to explore a virtual map through a hand held stylus. The main goals of this research were to study the cognitive mapping process of people who are blind when exploring complex virtual maps and how they apply this spatial knowledge later in real space. The findings supply strong evidence that interaction with the BlindAid system by people who are blind provides a robust foundation for the participants' development of comprehensive cognitive maps of unknown real spaces.

Rehabilitation program integrating virtual environment to improve orientation and mobility skills for people who are blind

“…Previous research on using VEs for spatial exploration has depicted individuals’ difficulties and unsuccessful performance of subsequent orientation tasks in RS (Munro, Breaux, Patrey, & Sheldon, 2002). Our previous research (Lahav & Mioduser, 2008; Lahav, Schloerb, Kummar, & Srinivasan, 2011), resembling the current findings, described participants’ ability to manipulate spatial information and proceed confidently and successfully to the target during orientation tasks in RS. This research demonstrates the positive effect of BlindAid in the unfamiliar space.…”

Virtual reality as orientation and mobility aid for blind people

“…Research results show that during the exploration in the VEs, the participants mostly used RS exploration strategies, such as perimeter, grid, or object to object (Lahav and Mioduser, 2004;Lahav et al, 2011). Lahav and Mioduser (2004) found that some of the participants tended to count steps to be able to estimate dimensions and distances between the environment's components.…”

“…These results show that most of the participants (60-100 percent) explored the VE successfully. Some of the VE systems used a haptic device, such as a virtual cane (D'Atri et al, 2007;Lahav and Mioduser, 2004;Lahav et al, 2011;Lé cuyer et al, 2003;Pokluda and Sochor, 2003;Tzovaras et al, 2004). These research participants reported that the different virtual canes were useful for active exploration (collision and texture feedback) and as passive guidance (navigation effects).…”

“…The multimodal systems mostly focussed on acquiring a cognitive map. Accurate spatial descriptions of the explored spaces were given after exploring the VE (Evett et al, 2009;Lahav and Mioduser, 2004;Lahav et al, 2011;Max and Gonzalez, 1997;Ohuchi et al, 2006;Pokluda and Sochor, 2003). The participants were able to simulate successfully the environment size differences (Kurniawan et al, 2004;Tzovaras et al, 2004).…”

“…This paper describes and examines VEs that were developed to enable people who are blind to improve their O&M skills. There are mainly two groups of VEs: systems that support the acquisition of a cognitive map (Evett et al, 2009;Gonzá lez-Mora, 2003;Iglesias et al, 2004;Kurniawan et al, 2004;Lahav and Mioduser, 2004;Lahav et al, 2011;Lé cuyer et al, 2003;Max and Gonzalez, 1997;Merabet and Sá nchez, 2009;Ohuchi et al, 2006;Pokluda and Sochor, 2003;Sá nchez and Lumbreras, 2000;Simonnet et al, 2010;Torres-Gil et al, 2010;Zelek et al, 2003) and systems that are used as O&M rehabilitation aids (D'Atri et al, 2007;Gonzá lez-Mora et al, 2006;Inman et al, 2000;Lahav et al, 2011;Lé cuyer et al, 2003;Max and Gonzalez, 1997;Seki and Ito, 2003;Seki and Sato, 2011;Tzovaras et al, 2004). The purpose of this paper is to examine the past 14 years of research and development (R&D) on the role of VEs as an O&M aid to enhance skills and to train people who are blind or newly blind.…”