Seeing our Blind Spots: Smart Glasses-based Simulation to Increase Design Students’ Awareness of Visual Impairment

Abstract

Figure 1: The optical see-through Visual Impairment Simulation Glasses Concept and Prototype. (a) supposes a normal vision user. (b) demonstrate the peripheral vision loss mode of our device. e) is the central vision loss mode. (c) & (d) are the simulated peripheral vision loss from moderate to severe. (f) & (g) are the simulated central vision loss from moderate to severe.

Enhancing Wayfinding Experience in Low-Vision Individuals through a Tailored Mobile Guidance Interface

“…Simulating the experiences of individuals with disabilities is instrumental in fostering empathy among others and in designing or evaluating methods to alleviate the challenges posed by these disabilities [29]. Particularly in the context of simulating the visual conditions of individuals with LV, such tools are employed during the design of appropriate interfaces and in the evaluation of proposed interfaces and feedback mechanisms [28,30].…”

“…While LV simulations can be executed on static displays, numerous studies endeavor to recreate the practical experiences of individuals with LV through the use of HMDs or wearable glasses [28,30,31]. Zhang et al [30] developed a wearable vision loss simulator using transparent displays, designed to familiarize designers with the experiences of individuals with low vision.…”

“…While LV simulations can be executed on static displays, numerous studies endeavor to recreate the practical experiences of individuals with LV through the use of HMDs or wearable glasses [28,30,31]. Zhang et al [30] developed a wearable vision loss simulator using transparent displays, designed to familiarize designers with the experiences of individuals with low vision. This simulator is able to emulate both central and peripheral vision loss and it recreates the visual acuity and field of view reductions inherent to lowvision conditions without inducing motion sickness or visual fatigue.…”

“…Individuals with AMD predominantly experience visual conditions such as central scotoma and reduced saturation. To closely replicate the visual experience of individuals with LV who have central vision loss, our user study was constructed by a review of prior research that utilized LV simulations [28,30,31]. Based on these insights, we implemented a realistic representation of central vision loss and desaturation symptoms.…”

“…Central vision loss, which is a critical symptom of AMD, was emulated by obscuring the center of the field of vision with an elliptical, black visual stimulus (see Figure 2C). The size and shape of this obstruction were chosen concerning previous studies that simulated vision loss [30].…”