Basic issues concerning visually impaired people's use of haptic displays (original) (raw)

Haptic presentation of 3D objects in virtual reality for the visually disabled

This paper presents initial research on haptic perception of 3D objects in a virtual reality environment for aiding visually disabled persons in learning new routes and obstacle identification. The study spans a number of fields, from the technical, such as scene segmentation and obstacle detection algorithms to psychological aspects such as the effectiveness in utilizing haptic information. The authors constructed a prototype system for the tactile presentation of real objects through a virtual reality system.

Haptic rendering of visual data for the visually impaired

Multimedia, …, 2007

Human perception combines various sensory information—visual, aural, and haptic, for instance—to inter-pret the environment. Virtual real-ity applications aim to immerse users in a virtual environment by providing artificial input to inter-action sensors such as eyes, ...

Design of a haptic data visualization system for people with visual impairments

IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 1999

Data visualization is a technique used to explore real or simulated data by representing it in a form more suitable for comprehension. This form is usually visual since vision provides a means to perceive large quantities of spatial information quickly. However, people who are blind or visually impaired must rely on other senses to accomplish this perception. Haptic interface technology makes digital information tangible, which can provide an additional medium for data exploration and analysis. Unfortunately, the amount of information that can be perceived through a haptic interface is considerably less than that which can be perceived through vision, so a haptic environment must be enhanced to aid the comprehension of the display. This enhancement includes speech output and the addition of object properties such as friction and texture. Textures are generated which can be modified according to a characteristic or property of the object to which it is applied. For example, textures can be used as an analog to color in graphical displays to highlight variations in data. Taking all of these factors into account, methods for representing various forms of data are presented here with the goal of providing a haptic visualization system without the need for a visual component. The data forms considered include one-, two-, and three-dimensional (1-D, 2-D, and 3-D) data which can be rendered using points, lines, surfaces, or vector fields similar to traditional graphical displays. The end result is a system for the haptic display of these common data sets which is accessible for people with visual impairments.

HAPTIC VIRTUAL ENVIRON MENTS FOR BLIND PEOPLE: EXPLORATORY EXPERIMENTS WITH TWO DEVICES

International Journal of Virtual Reality, 1999

This paper is a fusion of two independent studies investigating related problems concerning the use of haptic virtual environments for blind people: a study in Sweden using a PHANToM 1.5 A and one in the U.K. using an Impulse Engine 3000. In general, the use of such devices is a most interesting option to provide blind people with information about representations of the 3D world, but the restriction at each moment to only one point of contact between observer and virtual object might decrease their effectiveness. The studies investigated the perception of virtual textures, the identification of virtual objects and the perception of their size and angles. Both sighted (blindfolded in one study) and blind people served as participants. It was found (1) that the PHANToM can effectively render textures in the form of sandpapers and simple 3D geometric forms and (2) that the Impulse Engine can effectively render textures consisting of grooved surfaces, as well as 3D objects, properties of which were, however, judged with some over-or underestimation. When blind and sighted participants' performance was compared differences were found that deserves further attention. In general, the haptic devices studied have demonstrated the great potential of force feedback devices in rendering relatively simple environments, in spite of the restricted ways they allow for exploring the virtual world. The results highly motivate further studies of their effectiveness, especially in more complex contexts.

Haptic representation of images for the blind and the visually impaired

2005

This work aims at the creation of an interactive environment in order to allow blind people to perceive gray scale images. Image processing techniques are used in order to extract information from the images and convert it into haptic representation. To achieve these conversions the technical limitations of the haptic device as well as the ability of the users to perceive haptic information is taken into account. Two methods are proposed using spatial and kinesthetic information.

Development of Navigation Skills through Audio Haptic Videogaming in Learners who are Blind

This study presents the development of a video game with audio and haptic interfaces that allows for the stimulation of orientation and mobility skills in people who are blind through the use of virtual environments. We evaluate the usability and the impact of the use of an audio and haptic-based videogame on the development of orientation and mobility skills in school-age learners who are blind. The results show that the interfaces used in the videogame are usable and appropriately designed, and that the haptic interface is as effective as the audio interface for orientation and mobility purposes.

Design and implementation of haptic virtual environments for the training of the visually impaired

2004

Abstract This paper presents a haptic virtual reality (VR) tool developed for the training of the visually impaired. The proposed approach focuses on the development of a highly interactive and extensible haptic VR training system (the ENORASI VR training system) that allows visually impaired, to study and interact with various virtual objects in specially designed virtual environments, while allowing designers to produce and customize these configurations.

ASSETS 98 Paper: Haptic Virtual Reality for Blind Computer Users

1999

This paper describes a series of studies involving a haptic device which can display virtual textures and 3-D objects. The device has potential for simulating real world objects and assisting in the navigation of virtual environments. Three experiments investigated: (a) whether previous results from experiments using real textures could be replicated using virtual textures; (b) whether participants perceived virtual objects to have the intended size and angle; and (c) whether simulated real objects could be recognised. In all the experiments differences in perception by blind and sighted people were also explored. The results have implications for the future design of VEs in that it cannot be assumed that virtual textures and objects will feel to the user as the designer intends. However, they do show that a haptic interface has considerable potential for blind computer users.