Due to the perceptual characteristics of head, vibrotactile Head-mounted Displays are built with low actuator density. Therefore, guidance is mostly assessed by pointing towards objects in azimuthal plane. When it comes multisensory interaction 3D environments, also important convey information about elevation In this paper, we design and assess a haptic technique for environments. First, explore modulation vibration frequency indicate position Then, HMD made render space around subject...

Vision loss has severe impacts on physical, social and emotional well-being. The education of blind children poses issues as many scholar disciplines (e.g., geometry, mathematics) are normally taught by heavily relying vision. Touch-based assistive technologies potential tools to provide graphical contents users, improving learning possibilities inclusion. Raised-lines drawings still the golden standard, but stimuli cannot be reconfigured or adapted person constantly requires assistance....

Several studies evaluated vibrotactile stimuli on the head to aid orientation and communication. However, acuity for vibration of head's skin still needs be explored. In this paper, we report assessment spatial resolution head. We performed a 2AFC psychophysical experiment systematically varying distance between pairs in standard-comparison approach. took into consideration not only perceptual thresholds but also reaction times subjective factors, like workload pleasantness. Results show...

Some blind people have developed a unique technique, called echolocation, to orient themselves in unknown environments. More specifically, by self-generating clicking noise with the tongue, echolocators gain knowledge about external environment perceiving more detailed object features. It is not clear date whether sighted individuals can also develop such an extremely useful technique. To investigate this, here we test ability of novice participants perform depth echolocation task. Moreover,...

We present a fully latching and scalable 4 × haptic display with mm pitch, 5 s refresh time, 400 mN holding force, 650 μm displacement per taxel. The serves to convey dynamic graphical information blind visually impaired users. Combining significant force high taxel density large amplitude motion in very compact overall form factor was made possible by exploiting the reversible, fast, hundred-fold change stiffness of thin shape memory polymer (SMP) membrane when heated above its glass...

Autonomous navigation in novel environments still represents a challenge for people with visual impairment (VI). Pin array matrices (PAM) are an effective way to display spatial information VI educative/rehabilitative contexts, as they provide high flexibility and versatility. Here, we tested the effectiveness of PAM participants orientation mobility task. They haptically explored map showing scaled representation real room on PAM. The further included symbol indicating virtual target...

The neural correlates of exploration and cognitive mapping in blindness remain elusive. role visuo-spatial pathways blind vs. sighted subjects is still under debate. In this preliminary study, we investigate, as a possible estimation the activity pathways, EEG patterns blindfolded-sighted during active tactile construction maps from virtual objects compared with rest passive stimulation. Ten ten matched, participated study. Events were defined moments when finger was only stimulated (passive...

Tactile maps are efficient tools to improve spatial understanding and mobility skills of visually impaired people. Their limited adaptability can be compensated with haptic devices which display graphical information, but their assessment is frequently performance-based metrics only hide potential abilities in O&M protocols. We assess a low-tech tactile mouse able deliver three-dimensional content considering how performance, mental workload, behavior, anxiety status vary task difficulty...

Visual information is paramount to space perception. Vision influences auditory estimation. Many studies show that simultaneous visual and cues improve precision of the final multisensory estimate. However, amount or temporal extent information, sufficient influence perception, still unknown. It therefore interesting know if vision can through a short-term environmental observation preceding audio task whether this task-specific environment-specific both. To test these issues we investigate...

Objective: To investigate whether training with tactile matrices displayed a programmable display improves recalling performance of spatial images in blind, low-vision and sighted youngsters. code understand the behavioral underpinnings learning two-dimensional dispositions, terms spontaneous exploration strategies. Methods: Three groups youngsters between 6 18 years old performed four sessions weekly schedule which they were asked to memorize single or double layouts, featured as matrices....

Improving spatial ability of blind and visually impaired people is the main target orientation mobility (O&M) programs. In this study, we use a minimalistic mouse-shaped haptic device to show new approach aimed at evaluating devices providing tactile representations virtual objects. We consider psychophysical, behavioral, subjective parameters clarify under which circumstances mental spaces (cognitive maps) can be efficiently constructed with touch by blindfolded sighted subjects. study two...

In this work in progress we propose a new method for evaluating objectively the process of performing tactile exploration with visuo-tactile sensory substitution system. Both behavioral and neurophysiological cues are considered to evaluate identification virtual objects surrounding environments. Our experiments suggest that both sighted visually impaired users integrated spatial information developed similar behavioural patterns. The proposed could also serve as tool touch-based interfaces...

Vibrotactile feedback is broadly used to support different tasks in virtual and augmented reality applications, such as navigation, communication, attentional redirection, or enhance the sense of presence environments. Thus, we aim include haptic component most popular wearable VR applications: headset. After studying acuity around head for vibrating stimuli, trying parameters, actuators, configurations, developed a guidance technique be vibrotactile Head-mounted Display (HMD). Our...

Pin-array displays are a promising technology that allow to display visual information with touch, crucial issue for blind and partially sighted users. Such programmable, therefore can considerably increase, vary tailor the amount of as compared common embossed paper and, beyond Braille, they graphics. Due shortage in establishing which ideal resolution allows understand simple graphical concepts, we evaluated discriminability tactile symbols at different resolutions complexity levels blind,...

This study investigated the influence of body motion on an echolocation task. We asked a group blindfolded novice sighted participants to walk along corridor, made with plastic sound-reflecting panels. By self-generating mouth clicks, attempted understand some spatial properties i.e. left turn, right turn or dead end. They were explore corridor and stop whenever they confident about shape. Their was captured by camera system coded. Most able accomplish task percentage correct guesses above...

Stroke patients suffer from impairments of both motor and somatosensory functions. The functional recovery upper extremities is one the primary goals rehabilitation programs. Additional deficits limit sensorimotor function significantly affect its after neuromotor injury. Sensory substitution systems, providing tactile feedback, might facilitate manipulation capability, improve patient's dexterity during grasping movements. As a first step toward this aim, we evaluated ability healthy...

This work presents a biologically inspired solution to problems that arise in multisensory attention, with specific application binaural humanoid robotics. The focus was on using only two microphones as an analogy mammalian auditory system. goal localize salient sound source and fuse this information visual-salience feature selection We describe method select task-relevant sounds the scene both interaural time difference (ITD), by of Jeffress Konishi avian modelled well-studied coincidence...

Traditional hearing aids are limited by the absence of spatial selectivity. Superdirective microphone array can recover such limit, performing a filtering to achieve an augmented SNR. We present Glassense, platform hosting double connected processing unit and mounted on frame common glasses. The has potential delivering binaural spatially selective audio inputs, allowing ecological pointing acoustic sources through head motion. designed arrays exhibit gain suitable improve speech reception...

This paper reports on the studies we are conducting to help visually impaired people in challenging task of safely navigating a partially or totally unknown environemnt. We present here some results showing how single taxel-based display can participate acquire geometrical information environment dealing with low level navigation. Specifically, designed mouse-shaped device, which allows users navigate virtual mirroring real sites. In design, first quantify tactile intrinsic sensitivity terms...