VR System to Aid Mobility of Blind Individuals

描述(申请人提供)：视觉信息的缺乏给盲人在陌生的空间行走带来了极大的困难。目前，这项任务所需的定向和行动(O&M)技能是由专家教练根据课程教授的，比如卡罗尔盲人中心使用的课程。通过应用麻省理工学院触摸实验室开发的桌面虚拟现实(VR)技术的最新发展，可以最大限度地减少由于成本削减和当前培训方法的其他限制(如探索时间和重复次数的限制)而导致的操作与维护指导员人数减少的负面影响。在卡罗尔中心和麻省理工学院触摸实验室的这个合作项目中，我们提议开发一个具有3D触觉和音频反馈的桌面VR系统，盲人用户可以在实际遇到它们之前与他们熟悉的真实空间的虚拟模型进行交互。该项目的具体目标是(1)开发具有空间特征的VR系统；(2)对完全失明的人进行实验，以发展对(A)他们如何探索虚拟空间，(B)他们如何使用VR系统构建陌生空间的认知地图，以及(C)他们如何在真实空间中谈判时激活认知地图的科学理解。在虚拟现实中的探索有望(1)增加盲人个体的自信心；(2)给他们一个整体和灵活的认知模型，帮助他们控制信息密度；(3)提供对目标空间的刺激、全面和彻底的了解。触觉设备正在变得更便宜，这样负担得起的VR系统就可以在不久的将来实用。因此，这项研究的三个长期好处是：(A)将VR系统整合到康复中心的O&M课程中，以改善他们对盲人的服务；(B)开发一套VR系统，可用于下载带有触觉和听觉反馈的空间地图，类似于目前的地图程序(如MapQuest)；(C)在K-12学术课程中整合VR系统的使用(如物理、几何等数据的字面感受)。相关目标包括盲人运营与维护服务提供商与高级信息技术和认知科学研究领域的研究人员和开发人员之间的对话、理解和协作研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Lack of visual information imposes great difficulties on blind individuals walking through unfamiliar spaces. Currently, the orientation and mobility (O&M) skills needed for this task are taught by expert instructors following a curriculum, such as the one used at the Carroll Center for the Blind. The negative impact of reductions in the available O&M instructors due to cost cutting and other limitations of the current training methods such as limits on exploration time and number of repetitions can be minimized through the application of recent developments in desktop virtual reality (VR) technology developed at the MIT Touch Lab. In this collaborative project between the Carroll Center and the MIT Touch Lab, we propose to develop a desktop VR system with 3D haptic and audio feedback with which blind users can interact with virtual models of real spaces that they are familiar with them before actually encountering them. The specific aims of the project are (1) to develop the VR system with spatial features; (2) To conduct experiments with totally blind individuals to develop a scientific understanding of (a) how they explore virtual spaces, (b) how they construct cognitive maps of unfamiliar spaces using the VR system, and (c) how they activate the cognitive maps in negotiating through the real space. Exploring in the VR is expected to (1) increase the self- confidence of blind individuals; (2) give them a holistic and flexible cognitive model that will help them control the information density, and (3) provide a stimulating, comprehensive and thorough acquaintance with the target space. The haptic devices are becoming cheaper so that affordable VR systems can be practical in the near future. As a result of this the three long-term benefits of this research are (a) integrating the VR system into an O&M curriculum at rehabilitation centers, to improve their services for blind individuals; (b) developing a VR system that can be used to download spatial maps with haptic and: auditory feedback via the Internet, similar to the current map programs (e.g., Mapquest); (c) integrating the use of VR system in K-12 academic curriculum (e.g., literal feeling of data in Physics, Geometry etc.). Associated aims include the development of conversation, understanding, and collaborative research between the O&M service providers for blind individuals with researchers and developers in the advanced information technology and cognitive science research fields.