Navigation Links
Virtual maps for the blind
Date:9/10/2009

The blind and visually impaired often rely on others to provide cues and information on navigating through their environments. The problem with this method is that it doesn't give them the tools to venture out on their own, says Dr. Orly Lahav of Tel Aviv University's School of Education and Porter School for Environmental Studies.

To give navigational "sight" to the blind, Dr. Lahav has invented a new software tool to help the blind navigate through unfamiliar places. It is connected to an existing joystick, a 3-D haptic device, that interfaces with the user through the sense of touch. People can feel tension beneath their fingertips as a physical sensation through the joystick as they navigate around a virtual environment which they cannot see, only feel: the joystick stiffens when the user meets a virtual wall or barrier. The software can also be programmed to emit sounds a cappuccino machine firing up in a virtual caf, or phones ringing when the explorer walks by a reception desk.

Exploring 3D virtual worlds based on maps of real-world environments, the blind are able to "feel out" streets, sidewalks and hallways with the joystick as they move the cursor like a white cane on the computer screen that they will never see. Before going out alone, the new solution gives them the control, confidence and ability to explore new streets making unknown spaces familiar. It allows people who can't see to make mental maps in their mind.

Dr. Lahav's software takes physical information from our world and digitizes it for transfer to a computer, with which the user interacts using a mechanical device. Her hope is that the blind will be able to explore the virtual environment of a new neighborhood in the comfort of their homes before venturing out into the real world.

A touchy-feely virtual white stick

"This tool lets the blind 'touch' and 'hear' virtual objects and deepens their sense of space, distance and pe
'/>"/>

Contact: George Hunka
ghunka@aftau.org
212-742-9070
American Friends of Tel Aviv University
Source:Eurekalert  

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3

Related medicine news :

1. VirtualScopics Announces $4.35 Million Private Placement
2. Virtual colonoscopy -- a new technology for colorectal cancer screening?
3. Virtual Colonoscopy an Effective Option: Study
4. Virtual game helps children escape realities of burn unit
5. MyoMed Launches Flash Virtual Tour of Toxin-Free Pain Relief
6. HIMSS Second Virtual Conference & Expo Less Than a Month Away
7. Virtual Reality Technology Finds Ready and Willing Market in Healthcare
8. Epstein-Barr: a virtual look at a vexing virus
9. Design-her Gals(TM) Announces the Ground-Breaking Virtual On-Line Walk for Wishes to Grant Dreams for Stage IV Breast Cancer Patients this Holiday Season Through Gal to Gal Foundation
10. Innovative Amerathon Club Website Virtual Journey to Good Health
11. ACUVUE(R) 2 COLOURS(R) Brand Contact Lenses Launches Virtual Eye Makeover Tool
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
Virtual maps for the blind
(Date:5/22/2013)... Seva Call (Save-A-Call) has launched in ... and connects consumers to the right available professional by ... to handle personal matters than the national and state ... work. So, they really can’t afford the 30 minutes ... professional. , Now, Detroit residents will be able to ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... 22, 2013 LDM Global ( http://www.ldmglobal.com ... services for law firms, corporations and government agencies announces ... cloud-based e-discovery software company, to deliver defensible ESI collections ... partnership, Cumulus Data and LDM Global hosted a VIP ... Tuesday, May 21st. This event was in conjunction ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... Many people across the United States ... how to lose weight safely and rapidly. Unfortunately, crossing ... demotivate people to continue their journey toward healthy eating ... on Medical News Today offers credence to ... and actually losing those initial pounds can prove extremely ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... 22, 2013 Athletic-Minded Traveler LLC, ... company released today its 2013 U.S. Business Hotel ... received the company’s recommendation after ongoing research of ... tours by the editorial staff. Selection criteria ... sport court, etc.), in-room workout choices, healthy food ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... Heritage Woods of Dwight , a ... living community, is hosting a Quality Home Health informational program ... on Tuesday, May 28. , The community, which is located ... of all incomes, including those on Medicaid, who need some ... open to the public. There is no cost to ...
Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:Seva Call Revs Its Engines to Launch in Motor City 2Health News:LDM Global Enhances Forensic Data Collection Services with eCloudCollect 2Health News:LDM Global Enhances Forensic Data Collection Services with eCloudCollect 3Health News:hCGTreatments / Diet Doc hCG Diets & Weight Loss Plans Break the Cycle of Obesity and Weight Gain With New Education For Patients on How to Lose Weight the Healthy Way 2Health News:hCGTreatments / Diet Doc hCG Diets & Weight Loss Plans Break the Cycle of Obesity and Weight Gain With New Education For Patients on How to Lose Weight the Healthy Way 3Health News:2013: The 10 Healthiest Business Hotels in the U.S. 2Health News:Heritage Woods of Dwight Affordable Assisted Living to Host Informational Program on the Do's and Don'ts of Arthritis 2
... HealthDay Reporter , WEDNESDAY, Dec. 21 (HealthDay News) ... people are suffering from acid reflux, likely increasing the number ... suggests. In Norway, the prevalence of acid reflux, also ... in the past 10 years, say researchers led by ...
... -- Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all unvaccinated adults ... 59, say new guidelines from the U.S. Advisory Committee on ... soon as possible after adults in this age group are ... older than 59 can receive hepatitis B vaccination at the ...
... 2011 Elsevier,s Journal of Clinical Virology ... and Prevention (CDC) today announced the publication of a ... This timely supplement contains articles which summarize studies since ... new US HIV diagnostic testing algorithm. In addition, review ...
... By Amanda Gardner HealthDay Reporter , WEDNESDAY, ... was wrong when it got harder and harder to walk ... where he worked. He knew something was terribly ... consultation with an oncologist confirmed Whelan,s fears: He had advanced ...
... Dec. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Use of gastric bands as ... alert for potential complications years later, say the authors of ... developed two years after a 49-year-old British woman underwent the ... night sweats and a persistent cough that produced green and ...
... HealthDay Reporter , WEDNESDAY, Dec. 21 (HealthDay News) -- ... are thinner in older people who may be destined to ... the information to help people fend off dementia. Still, ... them to track the progression of the disease, said study ...
Cached Medicine News:Health News:As Obesity Rises, More Suffer From Acid Reflux 2Health News:Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommended for Adults With Diabetes 2Health News:40 Years On, the Triumphs and Challenges of America's 'War on Cancer' 2Health News:40 Years On, the Triumphs and Challenges of America's 'War on Cancer' 3Health News:40 Years On, the Triumphs and Challenges of America's 'War on Cancer' 4Health News:40 Years On, the Triumphs and Challenges of America's 'War on Cancer' 5Health News:As Gastric Banding Increases, So May Complications 2Health News:Thinner Brains Could Signal Alzheimer's, Study Suggests 2
(Date:5/22/2013)... TORONTO , May 22, 2013  Medifocus, Inc. (OTCQX: ... Mon , Chief Operating Officer, will present at the ... 2013 in New York City at ... is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. EDT and will ... go to:   http://wsw.com/webcast/marcum/mfs.v/   For more information ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... 22, 2013  BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: ... company, announced today the publication of its 2012 ... and it continues to focus on the Company,s shared ... the principles of shared value — creating value for ... societies — are fundamental to our strategy," said ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... Cellular Biomedicine Group (OTCQB: CBMG) today announced that ... projected enrollment required for its Phase I trial to evaluate ... Specific Dendritic Cell) therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most ... had no Severe Adverse Effect (SAE) reported. The ... with NIH under number NCT01828762 (click here to view) ...
Breaking Medicine Technology:Medifocus, Inc. to Present At The Second Annual Marcum LLP MicroCap Conference 2Medifocus, Inc. to Present At The Second Annual Marcum LLP MicroCap Conference 3BD Issues 2012 Sustainability Report 2BD Issues 2012 Sustainability Report 3Cellular Biomedicine Group Announces Enrollment Milestone for Phase I Clinical Trial for Liver Cancer 2Cellular Biomedicine Group Announces Enrollment Milestone for Phase I Clinical Trial for Liver Cancer 3
... 7, 2011 Stereotaxis, Inc. (NASDAQ: STXS ) ... 30, 2011.   Third Quarter 2011 ... down 38% from the year ago period.  The decrease was ... from market demand for a more efficient solution for complex ...
... CARLSBAD, Calif., Nov. 7, 2011 Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ... the quarter ended September 30, 2011.  The Company finished the ... loss (NOL) of $20.0 million and $44.9 million for the ... to a pro forma NOL of $6.0 million and $23.1 ...
Cached Medicine Technology:Stereotaxis Reports Third Quarter Financial Results 2Stereotaxis Reports Third Quarter Financial Results 3Stereotaxis Reports Third Quarter Financial Results 4Stereotaxis Reports Third Quarter Financial Results 5Stereotaxis Reports Third Quarter Financial Results 6Stereotaxis Reports Third Quarter Financial Results 7Stereotaxis Reports Third Quarter Financial Results 8Isis Reports Financial Results and Highlights for Third Quarter 2011 2Isis Reports Financial Results and Highlights for Third Quarter 2011 3Isis Reports Financial Results and Highlights for Third Quarter 2011 4Isis Reports Financial Results and Highlights for Third Quarter 2011 5Isis Reports Financial Results and Highlights for Third Quarter 2011 6Isis Reports Financial Results and Highlights for Third Quarter 2011 7Isis Reports Financial Results and Highlights for Third Quarter 2011 8Isis Reports Financial Results and Highlights for Third Quarter 2011 9
... The K-ASSAY Liquid Lipid Control is intended ... a consistent test sample of known concentration ... determinations. Include K-ASSAY Liquid Lipid Control with ... of the listed constituents. The user can ...
The K-ASSAY Lp(a) Control Set is intended for use as an assayed quality control material for monitoring the performance of Lp(a) immunoturbidimetric assays....
The K-ASSAY Anti-Streptolysin O Control Set is intended to be used as a consistent test sample of known concentration for monitoring the performance of K-ASSAY immunoturbidimetric assay for quantifyi...
... The Directigen EZ Flu A+B test is ... and qualitative detection of influenza A and ... throat swabs of symptomatic patients. The Directigen ... test, such that influenza A viral antigens ...
Medicine Products: