scholarly journals Multimedia Vision for the Visually Impaired through 2D Multiarray Braille Display

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 878 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seondae Kim ◽  
Eun-Soo Park ◽  
Eun-Seok Ryu
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Multimedia Contents ◽  
Accessible Information ◽  
Efficient Communication ◽  
Processing Information ◽  
Text Images ◽  
Braille Display

Visual impairments cause very limited and low vision, leading to difficulties in processing information such as obstacles, objects, multimedia contents (e.g., video, photographs, and paintings), and reading in outdoor and indoor environments. Therefore, there are assistive devices and aids for visually impaired (VI) people. In general, such devices provide guidance or some supportive information that can be used along with guide dogs, walking canes, and braille devices. However, these devices have functional limitations; for example, they cannot help in the processing of multimedia contents such as images and videos. Additionally, most of the available braille displays for the VI represent the text as a single line with several braille cells. Although these devices are sufficient to read and understand text, they have difficulty in converting multimedia contents or massive text contents to braille. This paper describes a methodology to effectively convert multimedia contents to braille using 2D braille display. Furthermore, this research also proposes the transformation of Digital Accessible Information SYstem (DAISY) and electronic publication (EPUB) formats into 2D braille display. In addition, it introduces interesting research considering efficient communication for the VI. Thus, this study proposes an eBook reader application for DAISY and EPUB formats, which can correctly render and display text, images, audios, and videos on a 2D multiarray braille display. This approach is expected to provide better braille service for the VI when implemented and verified in real-time.

Low Vision Enhancement: The Use of Figure–Ground Reversals with Visually Impaired Children

1985 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence R. Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Visual Functioning ◽  
Black Background ◽  
Printed Materials ◽  
Impaired Children ◽  
Visually Impaired Children

Describes an investigation of how different figure-ground contrast combinations affect the visual functioning of visually impaired children. The study employed the use of field reversals—printing white and yellow foregrounds on a black background—to decrease the amount of light reflected from printed materials to the eye. Eighteen visually impaired children ranging in age from nine years, four months to 14 years, six months participated in this study. The findings indicated that neither reversals in contrast nor chromaticity differences were effective measures for increasing visual functioning.

A Survey of Blind Orientation and Mobility Specialists about the Accommodations and Teaching Strategies They Use when Providing Orientation and Mobility Services

2021 ◽  
pp. 0145482X2110180
Author(s):  
Nora Griffin-Shirley ◽  
Laura Bozeman ◽  
The Nguyen ◽  
Vitalis Othuon ◽  
Anita Page ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Teaching Techniques ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Self Advocacy ◽  
Blind And Visually Impaired ◽  
Orientation And Mobility ◽  
Immersion Training

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to survey orientation and mobility (O&M) instructors who are blind concerning the identification of accommodations, teaching techniques, and resources to teach students with visual impairments (i.e., blindness or low vision). Methods: The study utilized an online survey via Qualtrics (2019) with 27 closed- and open-ended items to identify accommodations, teaching techniques, and resources needed. The survey was e-mailed to membership and certification organizations requesting O&M instructors who are blind to participate for 12 weeks. The participants were 15 O&M specialists, mostly male and Caucasian. Survey data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Forty percentage of the participants reported that there were minimal standards that they had to demonstrate prior to their admittance into an O&M program. About one-fourth of the participants mentioned their program was modified because of their visual impairment. Eleven participants (73%) reported that their nonvisual instructional strategies and techniques were predominantly gained through their university programs or other visually impaired instructors (27%, n = 4). Discussion: Aspects of this study that are similar to the current literature are smaller faculty-to-student ratios for blindfold or simulation cane courses, accommodations used by participants, and suggestions for monitoring the safety of students. The results revealed the participants’ strong belief in the importance of immersion training, the use of the Structured Discovery Cane Travel (SDCT), nonvisual skills during O&M instruction, sleep shades, and students’ problem-solving abilities. Implication for practitioners: Although the participants had received SDCT immersion training, most personnel preparation programs approved by the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of Blind and Visually Impaired do not use this method. For this reason, it is important for faculty to identify best teaching practices from among all programs and to integrate these practices into their curricula. Sharing best practices could strengthen all programs. Moreover, students with visual impairments should be taught early about self-advocacy and the ability to have helpful knowledge about one’s skills at a university and in the workplace.

The Visually Impaired Driver in New York State

1979 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 228-232
Author(s):  
Norman J. Weiss
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
New York State ◽  
Lens System ◽  
York State ◽  
The Third ◽  
Road Signs ◽  
Third Phase ◽  
Usual Manner

Describes a three-part driving program for low vision persons. Potential trainees are first interviewed to detect problems that may interfere with success. Suitable candidates are then trained to quickly detect and recognize objects through a bioptic lens system. In the third phase, a mobility instructor gives training in various aspects of the automobile and driving, and the trainee is quizzed on road signs and markings while riding as a passenger. Students successfully completing all three phases may then go on to obtain a Learner's Permit and take driving lessons in the usual manner.

Driving with Low Vision

1979 ◽  
Vol 73 (9) ◽  
pp. 345-350
Author(s):  
Dennis K. Kelleher
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Data ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Training Sequences ◽  
Conducting Research ◽  
Licensing Standards

Discusses the current status of driving with low vision, both with and without a bioptic telescope. It specifies licensing criteria, training sequences, and identifies problem areas. Preliminary data from a comparison of safety records in three states are presented and recommendations are made for future licensing standards and for conducting research on visually impaired drivers.

scholarly journals Effects of Line Spacing on Reading Performance of Normally Sighted and Simulated Visually-Impaired Subjects: A Pilot Study Using Arabic Words

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Abdullah Z. Alotaibi
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Reading Rate ◽  
Reading Performance ◽  
White Background ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Line Spacing ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Letter Size ◽  
Visually Impaired Persons

The study aims to evaluate the role of line spacing during reading in normal and visually-impaired persons. A total of 225 normally-sighted participants with mean age of 23.7 years were asked to read Arabic sentences in a randomized order. Each Arabic sentence contains 7 lines with and without simulated cataract. The words were printed with black letters on white background to enhance contrast and fonts were in Times New Roman and of N12 letter size. The reading pages were placed on reading stand situated 25 cm away from the subject’s eyes. The simulated cataract was created by using a Bernell Cling Patch Occluder. This reduced the visual acuity of all subjects to 20/60. Each line of the text was separated by different line spacing namely: single space, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 4.0 which represents, 0.5 cm, 0.8 cm, 1.1 cm, 1.4 cm, 1.7 cm and 2.0 cm, respectively. The sheets were presented randomly and participants’ voices were recorded as they read under a controlled time. The tape was analysed later and reading rate was calculated. There was a significant difference (p<0.0001) in reading rates between the normal sighted persons and the visually impaired persons for all line spacing. Modifying the spacing between lines in prints had a significant impact (p<0.0001) on the reading rate of the visually impaired but not in normally-sighted persons (p˃0.05). Intermediate line spacing (2 and 2.5) increased the reading rate of the visually impaired persons significantly more (p<0.001) than other line spacing, but smaller or larger line spacing slowed their reading rate, significantly (p<0.001). The visually-impaired persons reported that they felt the difference in reading prints with larger line spacing as compared with normal sighted participants who did not. It is beneficial to adequately modify the line spacing in prints commonly read by low vision persons. For Arab subjects the optimum line spacing to significantly improve reading in the visually impaired should range from 0.8 to 1.1 cm. This finding may be a useful for publishers of Arab prints targeting the visually impaired persons. Thus, the implication of the study in the field of health is that by establishing the least common line spacing visualized optimally among normal and simulated visually impaired persons would be fixed as default line spacing for Arab printing to achieve better reading performance.

scholarly journals Camera Sensory System for Door and Stair Detection for Visually Impaired

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 109-113
Author(s):  
Shrugal Varde* ◽  
◽  
Dr. M.S. Panse ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Feature Extraction ◽  
Auditory Feedback ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Sensory System ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Blind Users ◽  
Test Environment ◽  
Extraction Algorithm ◽  
Mobility Aid ◽  
Key Features

This paper introduces a novel travel for blind users that can assist them to detects location of doors in corridors and also give information about location of stairs. The developed system uses camera to capture images in front of the user. Feature extraction algorithm is used to extract key features that distinguish doors and stairs from other structures observed in indoor environments. This information is then conveyed to the user using simple auditory feedback. The mobility aid was validated on 50 visually impaired users. The subjects walked in a controlled test environment. The accuracy of the device to help the user detect doors and stairs was determined. The results obtained were satisfactory and the device has the potential for use in standalone mode for indoor navigations.

A Novel Application of Information Communication Technology to Assist Visually Impaired People

2011 ◽  
pp. 103-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tee Zhi Heng ◽  
Ang Li Minn ◽  
Seng Kah Phooi
Keyword(s):  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Medical Model ◽  
Information Communication ◽  
Handheld Device ◽  
Changing Environments ◽  
Visually Impaired People ◽  
Impaired People ◽  
Security And Reliability ◽  
Road Closure

This chapter presents a novel application for wireless technology to assist visually impaired people. As an alternative to the medical model of rehabilitation, the information explosion era provides the foundation for a technological solution to lead the visually impaired to more independent lives in the community by minimizing the obstacles of living. A “SmartGuide” caregiver monitoring system is built as a standalone portable handheld device linked. The objective of this system is to assist blind and low vision people to walk around independently especially in dynamic changing environments. Navigation assistance is accomplished by providing speech guidance on how to move to a particular location. The system delivers dynamic environmental information to lead the visually impaired to more independent lives in the community by minimizing the obstacles of living. Information of changing environments such as road blockage, road closure, and intelligent navigation aids is provided to the user in order to guide the user safely to his or her destination. This system also includes a camera sensor network to enhance monitoring capabilities for an extra level of security and reliability.

scholarly journals Deep Learning-Based Positioning of Visually Impaired People in Indoor Environments

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (21) ◽  
pp. 6238
Author(s):  
Payal Mahida ◽  
Seyed Shahrestani ◽  
Hon Cheung
Keyword(s):  
Navigation System ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Inertial Sensor ◽  
User Interaction ◽  
Indoor Navigation ◽  
Sensor Data ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Visually Impaired People ◽  
Indoor Navigation System

Wayfinding and navigation can present substantial challenges to visually impaired (VI) people. Some of the significant aspects of these challenges arise from the difficulty of knowing the location of a moving person with enough accuracy. Positioning and localization in indoor environments require unique solutions. Furthermore, positioning is one of the critical aspects of any navigation system that can assist a VI person with their independent movement. The other essential features of a typical indoor navigation system include pathfinding, obstacle avoidance, and capabilities for user interaction. This work focuses on the positioning of a VI person with enough precision for their use in indoor navigation. We aim to achieve this by utilizing only the capabilities of a typical smartphone. More specifically, our proposed approach is based on the use of the accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer of a smartphone. We consider the indoor environment to be divided into microcells, with the vertex of each microcell being assigned two-dimensional local coordinates. A regression-based analysis is used to train a multilayer perceptron neural network to map the inertial sensor measurements to the coordinates of the vertex of the microcell corresponding to the position of the smartphone. In order to test our proposed solution, we used IPIN2016, a publicly-available multivariate dataset that divides the indoor environment into cells tagged with the inertial sensor data of a smartphone, in order to generate the training and validating sets. Our experiments show that our proposed approach can achieve a remarkable prediction accuracy of more than 94%, with a 0.65 m positioning error.

Impact of the ADA on the Employment and Promotion of Persons who are Visually Impaired

1997 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 460-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.D. Rumrill ◽  
C.M. Scheff
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Americans With Disabilities Act ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Competitive Employment ◽  
Poor Access

Unemployment and underemployment have plagued people who are visually impaired (including those who are blind and those who have low vision) since long before the Randolph-Sheppard Act of 1936. Five years after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was implemented in 1992, persons who are visually impaired still have poor access to and are discriminated against in the labor market. This article examines the barriers to competitive employment for persons with visual impairments and presents an ADA-compatible strategy to help remove these barriers.

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